TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NOTE
No. 2005-11
Contact: Irene Wimbush
School Business Services
FOOD AND NUTRITION MANAGEMENT
(850) 245-9334
?
Jim Horne, Commissioner
SC 205-9334
?
DATE: August 16, 2004
TO:
Sponsors of the National School Lunch Program, and School Breakfast Program
FROM:
Diane Santoro, Administrator
SUBJECT:
?
Categorical Eligibility for Free Lunches and Breakfasts of Runaway, Homeless, and Migrant
Youth
Section 107 of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Act) amended section 9 (b) of the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act to make runaway, homeless, and migrant children categorically eligible for free meal
benefits, effective July 1, 2004, under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. In addition to
establishing free meal eligibility, the Act also establishes a requirement for documenting a child’s status as runaway,
homeless, or migratory.
Previously, Food and Nutrition Management provided guidance that Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) extended
categorical eligibility for free school meals to children considered homeless under the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act. School officials were allowed to accept statements that children were homeless from their local
educational liaison for the homeless or directors of homeless shelters where the children resided. The Act now
establishes in law the categorical eligibility of these children for free school meals. Please see the attached previously
issued guidance on the Free and Reduced Price Meal Eligibility for Homeless Children as amended by the McKinney-
Vento Homeless Assistance Act. There are, however, no similar eligibility and documentation provisions for runaway
youth or migrant children.
In an effort to develop this needed guidance for runaway youth, FNS is engaged in discussions with the Department of
Health and Human Services, regarding the implementation of that portion of the Act that addresses categorical eligibility
will be issued in the future on how to determine and document if a child is receiving services as a runaway and therefore,
categorically eligible for free school meals.
Food and Nutrition Management has been asked to contact the Director of the State Migrant Education Program to
develop a plan for sharing and documenting the migratory child’s eligibility for free school meals. Guidance will also be
issued in the future on how to determine and document if a child meets the eligibility criteria migratory status provided
under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
If you have questions, please contact Irene Wimbush at (800) 504-6609 or Irene.Wimbush@fldoe.org.
Attachment
DS/IW/set
