Meal Eligibility Benefits process – Household Income Data Collection Form - Important!

If you think your family may be eligible for free or reduced meal benefits, please fill out a Household Income Data Collection form  in English or Spanish. Only one form is necessary per household.  Students who received free or reduced meal eligibility last school year will continue to have these benefits for the next 3 school years.   Forms will be available at Back to school nights and thereafter at your school sites, or district food service office next to the cafeteria at Saint Helena Elementary School.   Please return forms to your school sites.  All information on forms remain confidential within food services and for district purposes only. 

       Why is it very important to  fill out the Household Income Data Collection Form if meals are free to all students this year?

• Free or reduced-priced eligibility meal benefits gives you other benefits such as reduced school and activity fees, medical benefits, housing benefits, utility benefits and additional school funding for programs that help everyone!

Households do not need to turn in a Household Income Data Collection Form when the household receives a notification letter saying that all children automatically qualify for free meal benefits when any household member receives benefits from  CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR. Children who meet the definition of foster, homeless, migrant, or runaway, and children enrolled in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meal eligibility benefits. Contact school officials if any child in the household is not on the notification letter.  The household must let school officials know if they do not want to qualify for free or reduced-price meal eligibility benefits.