Pennsylvania Education Secretary Announces Federal Guidelines for 2011-12 School Lunch Program

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis today announced that federal income guidelines to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price school meals and free milk for the July 2011 - June 2012 program year are now available.

Schools and other institutions and facilities use these guidelines to determine eligibility for the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Special Milk Program for Children, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program.

Households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) need only include the SNAP or TANF case number on their application.  Households enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) also may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals and should complete a Household Meal Benefit Application.

Federal law prohibits any child eligible under these programs from being discriminated against based on race, sex, color, national origin, age or disability.  To file a complaint of discrimination, write to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. 20250, or call toll free 1-866-632-9992.  TDD users may contact the USDA through local relay or the federal relay at 1-800-877-8339 or 1-866-377-8642 (relay voice users).

For more information on school nutrition, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education's website at www.pde.state.pa.us and type in keyword "School Nutrition."

Media contact:  Tim Eller, 717-783-9802

Editor's Note: Listed below are the income eligibility guidelines for the 2011-2012 program year:

Free meals or milk, 130 percent of poverty guidelines, organized by family size and income: one, $0 to $14,157; two, $0 to $19,123; three, $0 to $24,089; four, $0 to $29,055; five, $0 to $34,021; six, $0 to $38,987; seven, $0 to $43,953; eight, $0 to $48,919; for each additional family member, add $4,966.

Reduced price meals, 185 percent of poverty guidelines, organized by family size and income: one, $14,158 to $20,147; two, $19,124 to $27,214; three, $24,090 to $34,281; four, $29,056 to $41,348; five, $34,022 to $48,415; six, $38,988 to $55,482; seven, $43,954 to $62,549; eight, $48,920 to $69,616; for each additional family member, add $7,067.

Not eligible, organized by family size and income: one, $20,148 and up; two, $27,215 and up; three, $34,282 and up; four, $41,349 and up; five, $48,416 and up; six, $55,483 and up; seven, $62,550 and up; eight, $69,617 and up; for each additional family member, add $7,068.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education