Illinois State Board of Education Announces New Income Eligibility Guidelines for Free and Reduced-Price Meals

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has announced the new income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price meals for the upcoming school year. The guidelines are based on the federal poverty guidelines and are used to determine which students are eligible for free or reduced-price breakfast, lunch, and after-school snacks. The ISBE has set the income eligibility guidelines at 130% of the federal poverty level for free meals and 185% of the federal poverty level for reduced-price meals. For a family of four, the income eligibility guideline for free meals is $33,475 per year, while the guideline for reduced-price meals is $47,638 per year. The guidelines are used by schools to determine which students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, and are also used to determine which schools are eligible for federal funding for meal programs. The ISBE has also announced that households that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits are automatically eligible for free meals. Additionally, households that receive benefits from the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) are also automatically eligible for free meals. The ISBE has also reminded schools that they must notify households of the income eligibility guidelines and the application process for free and reduced-price meals. Schools must also provide applications for free and reduced-price meals to all households, and must process applications in a timely manner. The ISBE has also announced that it will provide training and technical assistance to schools to help them implement the new income eligibility guidelines. The training will cover topics such as the application process, eligibility determination, and meal counting and claiming. The ISBE has also reminded schools that they must ensure that all students have access to nutritious meals, regardless of their ability to pay. The ISBE has also announced that it will monitor schools to ensure that they are complying with the new income eligibility guidelines and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) regulations. The ISBE has also reminded schools that they must maintain accurate and complete records of all applications for free and reduced-price meals, as well as all determinations of eligibility. The ISBE has also announced that it will provide guidance and support to schools to help them implement the new income eligibility guidelines and to ensure that all students have access to nutritious meals. The new income eligibility guidelines are effective immediately, and schools must begin using them to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price meals for the upcoming school year. The ISBE has also reminded schools that they must notify households of any changes to the income eligibility guidelines or the application process for free and reduced-price meals. The ISBE has also announced that it will continue to work with schools and other stakeholders to ensure that all students have access to nutritious meals and to support the health and well-being of all students. The ISBE has also reminded schools that they must ensure that all students have access to meals that meet the nutritional standards set by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The ISBE has also announced that it will provide resources and support to schools to help them implement the new income eligibility guidelines and to ensure that all students have access to nutritious meals. The ISBE has also reminded schools that they must maintain a fair and transparent process for determining eligibility for free and reduced-price meals, and that they must ensure that all households have an equal opportunity to apply for free and reduced-price meals.

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