Applications for Free and Reduced-Price Meals
Meal Applications for the 2011-2012 school year are available in the Nutrition Services office at 389 W. Truslow Avenue in Fullerton.
Only original application forms are accepted. No faxed applications can be accepted.
Applications must be completed using black or blue ink. If other ink colors are used, the application will be rejected. No white-out is permitted. No cross-throughs are allowed.
Applications are accepted throughout the school year.
It takes up to 10 school days to process an application. Parents: Please plan accordingly.
Instructions English Spanish
Common Questions & Answers
Q. Do I need to fill out a new application every year?
A. Yes. The National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs receive State and Federal funds. These programs have extensive rules and requirements. The District must have a current application on file each year for every student who participates in either Program in order to receive the State and Federal funds.
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Q. Can I fill out an application online?
A. No. The expense of adding the online option prevents the District from offering it at this time. Online applications will be availble for the 2012-2013 school year.
Q. Where can I get an application?
A. Applications are available in the Nutrition Office and in the lobby at the District Office. You may ask that an application be mailed to your home.
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Q. Where do I turn in my application?
A. Turn your application in at the Nutrition Office. You may submit it in person or by mail. Sending or turning in your application elsewhere delays the process.
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Q. Can someone drop off my application for me?
A. Yes. If the application is complete and written in black or blue ink, it will be processed. If it is incomplete or filled out in an unacceptable color of ink, it will be rejected. Applications must be signed by a parent or guardian who resides in the household.
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Q. When is the deadline for turning in an application?
A. Applications are accepted throughout the school year. Remember that it takes up to 10 school days to process your application, so plan accordingly.
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Q. Does last year's application carry over into the new year?
A. Yes, but only for the first 10 days. This allows for time for parents to catch-up with their new school-year paperwork. HINT: Don't wait to turn in your new application. Remember that applications can take up to ten school days to process.
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Q. How long does it take to process my application after your office receives it?
A. It can take up to ten school days. The time required varies depending on the number of applications received and problems with missing information, etc., that need to be solved prior to completing the actual processing. If there is a problem with your application, it may be returned to you by mail. You may be asked to return to our office in person. Incomplete applications delay the process.
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Q. Other school districts don't use this type of computer application. Why does Fullerton School District use it?
A. The Fullerton School District must send reports to the State and Federal governments about the meal programs. The most accurate and expeditious way to provide these reports is the computerized method currently being used.
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Q. Should I complete one application per child?
A. No. Complete one application and include ALL members of your household.
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Q. Students who are new to the District (including Kindergarten students) didn't receive an application in the mail. How can I get an application? And do I have to pay full-price for their meals until the application has been processed?
A. Parents/Guardians can get an application either in person or by mail. Applications are available in our Nutrition Office. To request an application by mail, please call 714-447-7435. Applications are available at the school sites for new students, but applications should be submitted to the Nutrition Office either in person or by mail.
Yes, until your application has been processed, your students will need to pay full-price for the meals they purchase unless they receive the emergency meal.
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Q. Does the District automatically mail applications to all students each year?
A. Yes. The applications are mailed on or after July 1st to all students continuing to attend the Fullerton School District. Remember to notify your school when your address changes. Applications are mailed to the address listed by the school. The application is part of the Nutrition Services information packet. All parents and guardians are encouraged to read all information in the packet whether or not they apply for free or reduced-price meals because the information provided concerns pricing, services, and policies.
The Nutrition Office makes every attempt to mail one application per family (except Foster children who need to submit one application per child). If your family received multiple application packets by mail, please email Debbie Hjorth and explain that you received multiple application packets. In the email, provide the names of all of your children so they can be grouped as a family for future mailings. This helps the District reduce printing and postage expense, and it also helps to reduce environmental waste.
Online applications will be available for the 2012-2013 school year on or after July 1, 2012. Look for information and updates in the Nutrition Services newsletters and on this webpage. Instructions for accessing the online application and the related information will also be included in the Nutrition Services information packet (mailed on/after July 1, 2012).
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Q. Do you accept applications for Fullerton Joint Union High School District?
A. No. The Fullerton School District includes Kindergarten through the 8th grade only.
Q. My child transferred to the Fullerton School District from another school district. Can you just transfer the information from that district so I don't have to fill out an application?
A. The Fullerton School District is only allowed to share application information with other districts under certain circumstances. A recent change in California's Education Code allows this sharing of meal benefit elibility among school districts exclusively for the purpose of providing meal benefits. Please contact your school district if you have questions about this policy.
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Q. Do I have to provide my Social Security Number?
A. Yes. The District receives State and Federal funding. To qualify for that funding, the District must follow the Program rules, and the rules state that applicants must provide the last four digits of their Social Security Number. See the following Privacy Act information. Exceptions to this rule are applications for foster children and those who qualify based on program participation. See the next question for further information.
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Q. What is the Privacy Act regarding the National School Lunch Program?
A. The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act requires that you submit the information requested on the application. You do not have to provide the information. If you do not provide it, the District office cannot approve your application 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 Social Security Number is not required when you apply on behalf of a foster child or you list a Food Stamp, CalWORKs Case Number, Kin-GAP Case Number, or FDPIR Case Number on your application. We will use your information to determine if your child(ren) is/are eligible for free or reduced-price meals and for administration and enforcement of the lunch and breakfast programs.
Q. Do I have to list all of my household's income, or can I just write an amount that I know will qualify my students for free meals?
A. You must be honest when completing your application. Your signature means that you certify that all of the information provided is true and correct and that all income is reported. Also, you understand that this information is given in connection with the receipt of Federal funds, that school officials may verify the information on the application and that deliberate misrepresentation of the information may subject you to prosecution under applicable State and Federal laws.
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Q. How will I know the results of my application?
A. If you turn your application in at the Nutrition Office and wait for the District official to review the application, you will be told within approximately 5 minutes whether your child has qualified for free meals, reduced-price meals, or full-pay meals.
If you submit your application by mail or drop-off, a letter will be mailed to you after the application has been processed.
You may call the Nutrition Office and check on your application at any time between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday during the normal school year whenever school is in session. It is recommended that you check the status of your application between 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. whenever possible.
IN EITHER CASE, THE RESULTS OF THE APPLICATION MAY NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE FOR UP TO TEN SCHOOL DAYS.
Q. My family is homeless. We live in a car/shelter/motel/park or have made other living arrangements while we don't have a permanent home. How can we get help?
A. Contact Craig Bertsch at the District Office as soon as possible. Mr. Bertsch's phone number is 714-447-7528. Information is available from Mr. Bertsch's office regarding emergency shelter, clothing, meals, counseling, and a number of other goods and services.
Also, specify "H" for homeless when completing your Application for Free and Reduced-Price Meals.
Emergency meals are provided at every school for currently-enrolled students. Your student must ask for the emergency meal. For further information, contact the Nutrition Office.
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Q. What is verification?
A. Verification is an application review process that school districts must perform annually if they participate in the National School Lunch Program. This process requires the random selection of applications that must be reviewed by the school official. Parents/Guardians must produce the required documents and respond within the timeframe, or the free/reduced-price meal benefits of their household are terminated for the current school year.
Q. Is it possible to be chosen for verification more than once?
A. Yes. Although the selection of households is random, it is possible that your household may be selected more than once. Verification is only conducted once each year. Additionally, the District is required to verify "for cause" any application it receives that may be questionable.
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Q. How can I complain about the verification results?
A. Instructions for filing a complaint about the District's decision regarding the results of verification are included in the results letter which is mailed as soon as the determination has been made. You may discuss the results with Nutrition Services at 714-447-7435. If there has been no resolution, you also have the right to a fair hearing. A fair hearing may be requested by calling or writing the following school official: Mark Douglas, Fullerton School District, 389 W. Truslow Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832 (714) 447-7435.
The Nutrition Services Assistant Director welcomes suggestions about the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs and wants to know what is/isn't working. You may email her at Amanda Colon. Please allow adequate time for Ms. Colon to respond.
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Map to the Nutrition Office
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