Martin Feinberg, Realtor, notes that the Culver City Unified School District has announced its guidelines for students who qualify for free or low-cost meals every school day.  Under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, thousands of students in the CCUSD receive nutritious lunches and breakfasts at school to help make sure that no child has to function in school while hungry.

Though the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs have existed since 1946, many Culver City Real Estate area residents don’t know that their children qualify for free or low-cost breakfasts and lunches each school day.  This is usually because the parents incorrectly believe that they earn too much money for their children to qualify.

For this reason the CCUSD publishes its free and reduced price lunch eligibility scale each year.  Students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals if their family’s household income is less than or equal to the financial guidelines shown below.

Free Eligibility Scale for Breakfast, Lunch, and Milk

Household Size, Year, Month, Twice Per Month, Every Two Weeks, Week

• 1 $15,782 $1,316 $658 $607 $304
• 2 $21,398 $1,784 $892 $823 $412
• 3 $27,014 $2,252 $1,126 $1,039 $520
• 4 $32,630 $2,720 $1,360 $1,255 $628
• 5 $38,246 $3,188 $1,594 $1,471 $736
• 6 $43,862 $3,656 $1,828 $1,687 $844
• 7 $49,478 $4,124 $2,062 $1,903 $952
• 8 $55,094 $4,592 $2,296 $2,119 $1,060

For each additional family member add $5,616 $468 $234 $216 $108

Reduced-price Eligibility Scale for Breakfast and Lunch

Household Size, Year, Month, Twice Per Month, Every Two Weeks, Week

• 1 $22,459 $1,872 $936 $864 $432
• 2 $30,451 $2,538 $1,269 $1,172 $586
• 3 $38,443 $3,204 $1,602 $1,479 $740
• 4 $46,435 $3,870 $1,935 $1,786 $893
• 5 $54,427 $4,536 $2,268 $2,094 $1,047
• 6 $62,419 $5,202 $2,601 $2,401 $1,201
• 7 $70,411 $5,868 $2,934 $2,709 $1,355
• 8 $78,403 $6,534 $3,267 $3,016 $1,508

For each additional family member add $7,992 $666 $333 $308 $154

If a household receives a notification letter stating that all children automatically qualify for free meals it is not necessary to turn in an application. This usually happens when any household member already receives benefits from CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR. Children who meet the definition of foster, homeless, migrant, or runaway, and children enrolled in their school’s Head Start program, are eligible for free meals as well.

However, if a household does qualify for free or reduced price lunches and does not receive a notification letter they should contact school officials for an application.  All households not interested in participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, but have received a notification letter, must let school officials know that they do not want to receive free or reduced-price meals.

Usually, applications for the National School Lunch Program will be sent to the household with a letter about the free and reduced-price meal program. Households that want to apply for meal benefits must fill out one application for all children in the household and deliver or mail it to the Culver City School District’s office, 4401 Elenda St.

The District also will accept requests through its online application, http://www.culvercafe.org.

Local listing agent Martin Feinberg encourages parents to contact Culver City School representative Judith Quinonez at (310) 842-4200 for more information or help.