Office of Food Services -- Free & Reduced Price School Meals
	Eileen M. Bellew, MA, RD, LDN, Director of Food Services, 610-359-4275

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Children need healthy meals to learn. Marple Newtown School District offers healthy meals every school day. The school lunch cost is $2.25 at all elementary schools; $2.40 at Paxon Hollow Middle School and $2.60 at our Senior High School.  Your child(ren) may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals.  Reduced price is  $ .40 cents for lunch.

Since 1946, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) has provided nutritional lunches to children in participating schools. In 2004, over 94,600 schools (grades K-12) participated in the NSLP. Any student in these schools can get lunch through the NSLP regardless of the student's household income. Depending on guidelines based on household income and size, eligible students may receive free or reduced-price lunches.(Click here for a copy of the income eligibility guidelines) In 2004, school cafeterias served over 4.8 billion lunches. The Marple-Newtown School District is happy to participate in the NSLP.

Free or Reduced Price Meal Application Form

1. Do I need to fill out an application for each child?  No.  Complete the application to apply for free or reduced price meals.  Use one Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application for all students in your household.  We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information.  Return the completed application to: Office of Food Services, Robert Gauntlet Center, 38 Media Line Road, Suite 207, Newtown Square, Pa 19073.

2. Who can get free meals?  Children getting Food Stamps or TANF and most foster children can get free meals regardless of your income.  Also, your child(ren) can get free price meals if your household income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Guidelines.

3. Can homeless, runaway and migrant children get free meals?  Please call Mrs. Bellew at 610.359.4275 to see if your child(ren) qualify, if you have not already been informed that they will get free meals.

4. Who can get reduced price meals?  Your child(ren) can get low cost meals if your household income is within the reduced price limits on the Federal Income Chart, shown on this application.

5. Should I fill out an application if I got a letter this school year saying my children are approved for free or reduced price meals?  Please read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions.  Call Food Service at  610.359.4275 if you have questions.

6. I get WIC.  Can my child(ren) get free meals?  Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced price meals.  Please fill out an application.

7. Will the information I provide be checked?  Yes, we may ask you to send written proof.

8. If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later?  Yes.  You may apply at any time during the school year if your household size goes up, income goes down, or if you start receiving Food Stamps or TANF.  If you lose your job, your children may be able to get free or reduced price meals.

9. What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application?  You should talk to your school officials.  You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to: [name, address, phone number].

10. May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?  Yes.  You or your child(ren) do not have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for free or reduced price meals.

11. Who should I include as members of my household?  You must include all people living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends).  You must include yourself and all children who live with you.

12. What if my income is not always the same?  List the amount that you normally get.  For example, if you normally get $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only got $900, put down that you get $1000 per month.  If you normally get overtime, include it, but not if you get it only sometimes. 

13. We are in the military; do we include our housing allowance as income?  If your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income.  All other allowances must be included in your gross income.

If you have other questions or need help, call 610.359.4275.
Si necesita ayuda, por favor llame al teléfono: 610.359.4275.
Si vous voudriez d’aide, contactez nous au numero: 610.359.4275.