The Irvine Unified School District participates in the National School Lunch Program and serves nutritious lunches every day at school.  Meals are available at the regular price or families may apply for assistance by submitting a meal application. Applications can be obtained from any school or IUSD Nutrition Services Website. Parents are encouraged to download the application from IUSD Nutrition Services Website, fill it out and mail it to Nutrition Services Department . To download the form, view eligiblity guidelines, or for answers to common application questions, please go to www.iusd.org, click the "business services" tab on the left, followed by the "food services" tab. Then click on "My Online Lunchbox" box. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page to" Meal Apps" where you will find step by step instruction and detailed information.

The lunch prices for 2009-2010 are: $3.25 elementary and $3.75 secondary,the reduced price meal is $ 0.40 for all schools. Students may purchase milk for .75 cents.

Return completed Free & Reduced application forms with necessary income document attachments to I.U.S.D. Nutrition Services, 5050 Barranca Parkway, Irvine CA 92604.

...This district participates in direct certification. Your child is automatically certified to receive free meals if your household currently receives Food Stamps, (FS), your child receives California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKS), or Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (Kin-GAP). See HOW TO APPLY - FOOD STAMPS BELOW

...If your total household income is the same or less than the amounts on the income scale below, your child may receive meals free or at reduced price.  Household means a group of related, or non-related individuals who are living as one economic unit and sharing living expenses.  Living expenses include rent, clothes, food, doctor bills, and utility bills.

...A foster or institutionalized child who is the legal responsibility of the welfare agency or court may receive free or reduced price meals regardless of your income. Their eligibility is based on their "Personal Use Income."

                         PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.  THE INFORMATION CHANGES YEARLY.

HOW TO APPLY FOR FREE OR REDUCED PRICE MEALS.   A NEW APPLICATION IS REQUIRED EACH SCHOOL YEAR. Please COMPLETE ONLY ONE APPLICATION PER FAMILY. ALL FAMILIES MUST ATTACH PROOF/SOURCE OF INCOME WITH THIS APPLICATION FORM.  Include your most current pay stub showing how much and how often income is received, or a copy of an unemployment award letter, or Notice of Action Letter if you are on Food Stamps. If someone is providing for you but not living in the household, you must include an official document verifying the amount that person is sending you monthly to support the family.

1. Foster or Institutionalized Student - Use ONE APPLICATION PER CHILD who is the legal responsibility of the welfare agency or the court.   Complete Section B writing student's name, the specific school, and the amount of "personal use income" (money given by the welfare office and all other money the child gets, such as money from his/her family and from child's full-time or regular part-time jobs.) The foster parent or agency official must sign in Section C.   Fill in the address for notification and attach copy of child's income source.

2 .Food Stamp, CalWORKs, KinGap, or FDPIR Households - If your household receives Food Stamp, or your child receives CalWORKs, do not complete a meal application. School officials will notify you of your eligibility for free meals. If you are not contacted by October 20, 2009, please contact the Nutrition Service Office. You may need to complete an application. If you need to fill out an application please attach the most current  copy of your Notice of Action Letter. (Only Orange County letters are accepted).

3. All Other Income Households (wages, salary, pensions, unemployment, etc.) - COMPLETE ONLY ONE APPLICATION PER FAMILY. If  you do not list a food stamp, CalWORKs, KinGAP or  FDPIR case number for each student listed on the application, you must complete Sections B &C (listing all adults 21 years and older and the amount each person received last month before taxes and the source of income. Attach proof of  income for each person  employed,  or unemployment statements, or proof of any other source of income.

 Social Security Number - The application must have the social security number of the adult who signs the application. If the adult does not have a social security number at this time, write "none" or something else to show the adult does not have a social security number.  

THIS APPLICATION CAN NOT BE APPROVED AND WILL BE RETURNED IF IT CONTAINS INCOMPLETE INFORMATION. If you have any questions or need help in completing the application, contact the Nutrition Office at 936-6520.  In approximately ten working days  of receipt of a completed application, you will be notified by mail of your child's meal status. CONTINUE TO PROVIDE LUNCH FOR YOUR CHILD UNTIL YOU RECEIVE WRITTEN NOTIFICATION THAT YOUR CHILD WAS APPROVED OR DENIED. Your approval letter should be kept with other important documents. A $5.00 fee will be charged for each additional letter requested.

Verification - The information on the application may be checked by school officials at any time during the school year. You may be asked to send additional proof of information stated on the application. 

Apply for Benefits - You may apply for benefits at any time during the school year.   If you are not eligible now, but your income goes down, you lose your job, or your family size becomes larger, you may complete an application at that time.

Nondiscrimination - Children who receive free or reduced price meals must be treated in the same manner as those children who pay full price for their meals.  USDA is an equal opportunity provider.  In accordance with the Federal Law and U.S. Dept of Agriculture policy, this institution prohibits from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.  To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202)720-5964 (voice and TDD).

Fair Hearing - If you do not agree with the decision on your application or the result of verification, you may discuss it with the Director. You also have the right to a fair hearing.  This can be done by contacting the following school official: Lisa Howell, Deputy Superintendent, Business Services, Irvine Unified School District, 5050 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, CA 92604  (949) 936-5000.

WIC Participants - If you currently receive benefits under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infant and Children better known as the WIC Program, your child may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
Confidentiality - Family size, household income, and Social Security Number information will remain confidential and will not be shared for any purpose.    Information you provide will determine you children's eligibility to receive free or reduced price meals and to verify eligibility.
Meals for Disabled - If you believe your child needs a food substitute or texture modification because of a disability, contact the 
Food Service Director.  A disabled child is entitled to a special meal at no extra charge if the disability prevents the child from eating the regular school meal.

Sincerely,                                                     
Jill Hartstein
Director of Nutrition Services

Income Eligibility Guidelines
July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010

*A household of one means a foster child, an institutionalized child, or a pupil who is his or her sole support.