Superintendent Arntzen Announces District Participation In Free And Reduced School Meals

Superintendent Arntzen has released the list of Montana school districts that will participate in the free and reduced-price school meals or free milk programs during the 2024-2025 school year. Districts are reimbursed for free and reduced-price school meals through the US Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch Program policy guidelines. Some area schools listed include Glasgow, Nashua, Hinsdale, Frazer and Saco.

“These precious federal tax dollars provide nutritious meals to our children during the school day,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “During the 2022-2023 school year, nearly 40 percent of Montana students qualified for the free and reduced-price price meal program. Thank you to all of our Montana school nutrition specialists for putting Montana student’s nutrition first.”

There are two free and reduced-price school meal programs, the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and the Pricing programs. Districts participating in the CEP do not require families to apply for benefits using a household application. Districts participating in the Pricing program do require families to submit a household application. Children may be eligible for free or reduced-price school meals or free milk if household income is within the limits of income eligibility. For further information on applying, please see the frequently asked questions or contact the child’s school.

Children from households that receive assistance from the following are automatically enrolled in the program for free meals or milk; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Children who meet the definition of homeless, migrant, runaway, and foster or are enrolled in Head Start as defined in § 245.2, CFR, are also eligible for free meals or milk programs.

Children who qualify for the new Medicaid direct certification or have parents or guardians who become unemployed or are enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) may be eligible for either free or reduced-price meals. Reduced-price meals have a cost of $0.40 for the National School Lunch Program and $0.30 for the School Breakfast Program.

Households that do not agree with an application decision may appeal the decision under the hearing procedure outlined in § 245.7, CFR.