DOWNEY - The Downey Unified School District has released its policy for providing free and reduced-price meals to students during the upcoming school year, which starts Sept. 7.The school district uses a sliding income scale to determine which students are eligible to receive free or discounted meals, as mandated by the federal government. Students who live in a household of four people, for example, are eligible for free breakfast, lunch and milk if the household income does not exceed $34,021. The maximum annual income increases $4,966 for each additional household member. Eligibility for foster children is based on a separate application and solely on the amount of the child's "personal use" income. Children who receive food stamps or other qualifying state aid are automatically eligible for free meals regardless of their household income. The meals are funded by the National School Lunch Program, a federally-assisted meal program that operates in public and non-profit private schools throughout the nation. The program dates to 1946, when it was signed into law by President Harry Truman.

********** Published: September 01, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 20