Copperas Cove ISD announced its policy today for providing free and reduced-price meals for children served under the attached current income eligibility guidelines. The CCISD Child Nutrition Department Building has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by anyone on request.
Starting on August 1, 2024 CCISD Child Nutrition Department live link will be open to submit Free and Reduced Meal Applications and should be completed and submitted online at www.ccisd.com or you can click the link included below:
English Application on the CCISD Child Nutrition website
Spanish Application on the CCISD Child Nutrition website
If you do not have access or a computer or need additional help to complete the online application, please call the Child Nutrition Department at 254-547-1227 x11509 for help. We will also have a computer available located at the CN Building for those needing access to a computer or for additional help in applying for benefits. A paper copy of the Free and Reduced Meal application in English and Spanish is available upon request only. The paper copy may be picked up at the CN Building located at 703 W. Ave D Copperas Cove, Texas 76522. Please be aware paper applications may take up to 10 days to process.
Criteria for Free and Reduced-Price Meal Benefits
The following criteria will be used to determine a child’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meal benefits:
Income
Household income that is at or below the income eligibility levels
Categorical (Automatic) Eligibility
Household receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
Program Participant
Child’s status as a foster child, homeless, runaway, migrant, or displaced by a declared disaster
Child’s enrollment in Head Start or Even Start
Income Eligibility
For those households that qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on income, an adult in the household must complete an application online at www.ccisd.com for free and reduced-price meals. Those individuals filling out the application will need to provide the following information:
Names of all household members
Amount, frequency, and source of current income for each household member
Last 4 digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application or, if the adult does not have a social security number, check the box for “No Social Security number”
Signature of an adult household member attesting that the information provided is correct
Categorical or Program Eligibility
Copperas Cove ISD is working with local agencies to identify all children who are categorically and program eligible. Jody Nieto will notify the households of these children that they do not need to complete an application. Any household that does not receive a letter and feels it should have should contact Jody Nieto at 254-547-1227 x11509 Any household that wishes to decline benefits should contact Jody Nieto at 254-547-1227 x11509.
Applications may be submitted anytime during the school year. The information provided by households on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility. Applications may also be verified by the school officials at any time during the school year.
Determining Eligibility
Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, The CCISD Child Nutrition Department POS/Eligibility Specialist will review applications and determine eligibility. Households or guardians dissatisfied with the Reviewing Official’s eligibility determination may wish to discuss the decision with the Reviewing Official on an informal basis. Households wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in writing to Dr. Jimmy Shuck: Assistant Superintendent of Operations & Support at 408 S. Main Copperas Cove, Texas 76522 or email at jimmy@ccisd.com
Unexpected Circumstances
If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the school. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household’s income falls at or below the attached current income eligibility guidelines.
Income Eligibility Guidelines for Determining Free and Reduced-Price Benefits (Effective from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025)
Family Size | Annually Free | Annually Reduced | Monthly Free | Monthly Reduced | Twice per Month Free | Twice per Month Reduced | Every Two Weeks Free | Every Two Weeks Reduced | Weekly Free | Weekly Reduced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | $19,578 | $27,861 | $1,632 | $2,322 | $816 | $1,161 | $753 | $1,072 | $377 | $536 |
2 | $26,572 | $37,814 | $2,215 | $3,152 | $1,108 | $1,576 | $1,022 | $1,455 | $511 | $728 |
3 | $33, 566 | $47,767 | $2,798 | $3,981 | $1,399 | $1,991 | $1,291 | $1,838 | $646 | $919 |
4 | $40,560 | $57,720 | $3,380 | $4,810 | $1,690 | $2,405 | $1,560 | $2,220 | $780 | $1,110 |
5 | $47,554 | $67,673 | $3,963 | $5,640 | $1,982 | $2,820 | $1,829 | $2,603 | $915 | $1,302 |
6 | $54,548 | $77,626 | $4,546 | $6,469 | $2,273 | $3,235 | $2,098 | $2,986 | $1,049 | $1,493 |
7 | $61,542 | $87,579 | $5,129 | $7,299 | $2,565 | $3,650 | $2,367 | $3,369 | $1,184 | $1,685 |
8 | $68,536 | $97,532 | $5,712 | $8,128 | $2,856 | $4,064 | $2,636 | $3,752 | $1,318 | $1,876 |
For each additional family member, add | $6,694 | $9,953 | $583 | $830 | $292 | $415 | $269 | $383 | $135 | $192 |
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act requires the information on this application. You do not have to give the information, but if you do not, we cannot approve your child for free or reduced price meals. You must include the last four digits of the social security number of the adult household member who signs the application. The last four digits of the social security number is not required when you apply on behalf of a foster child or you list a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) case number or other FDPIR identifier for your child or when you indicate that the adult household member signing the application does not have a social security number. We will use your information to determine if your child is eligible for free or reduced price meals, and for administration and enforcement of the lunch and breakfast programs. We MAY share your eligibility information with education, health, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund, or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program reviews, and law enforcement officials to help them look into violations of program rules.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or (2) fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. 24/25 MB