TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NOTE
No. 03-09
Contact:
FOOD AND NUTRITION MANAGEMENT
Bureau of School Business Services
Irene Wimbush
(800) 504-6609
Charlie Crist,
(850) 487-0020
Commissioner
DATE:
December 20, 2002
TO:
?
Sponsors of the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Special Milk
Program
FROM:
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Milton T. Tankersley, Administrator
Food and Nutrition Management
SUBJECT:
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Policies on the Collection of Households’ Free and Reduced Price Meal
Eligibility Information
The USDA has recently become aware of concerns about requirements in the "No Child Left Behind
€
Act" to annually collect socioeconomic data by child. They feel that the Provisions in this Act may have
€
led to the inappropriate use of free and reduced price meal applications. However, implementation of
€
these provisions must be conducted in a manner that is consistent with the free and reduced price
€
application-related requirements in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), which is governed by
€
the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.
€
We have issued two technical assistance notes, which set forth policies governing the free and reduced
€
price application process. On November 30, 2001, we issued technical assistance note
€
02-20
entitled "Requirements for the Submission of Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications.” On
€
June 19, 2002, we issued technical assistance note
02-46
entitled "The Free and Reduced Price Meal
€
Application and Direct Certification during the Operation of Provision II.” Please be aware that these
€
technical assistance notes are still in effect and govern the pertinent aspects of the free and reduced price
€
application process under the NSLP.
€
If you have questions, the technical assistance notes listed above may be viewed at
€
http://fnm.doe.state.fl.us. Please contact Irene Wimbush at 1-800-504-6609, or email
€
irene.wimbush@fldoe.org.
€
MTT/IW/set
cc: David Morris
FNM Staff
