FOOD SERVICE
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Welcome Back to the 23-24 School Year - click the link for back-to-school Food Service Program Information
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued numerous waivers and additional funding for School Nutrition Programs (SNP) – allowing many students to eat free school meals without collecting applications. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 was signed into law (Public Law 117-103) on March 15, 2022. This law did not extend any special authority to USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). This means that, unless Congress takes special action:
· There will be no extension of universal free meals in SY 2022-23
· There will be no extra funding for School Nutrition Programs in SY 2022-23
With this move back to pre-COVID practices, the Jones County School District will not be offering universal free meals to students in SY 2022-2023. To claim free or reduced-price meals, the District will need to collect student eligibility through direct certification or with an approved household application.
Most students will not have free or reduced-price benefits from SY 2022-23 to carry them into the first 30 days of SY 2023-24. Only students with an approved free or reduced-price application on file in SY 2022-23 will receive carryover benefits. Most students will start the year paying for lunch until they are either directly certified for free meals or the household submits a free and reduced-price application that is approved by the school.
The Jones County School District is communicating this now to let families know that universal free meals will NOT be available in SY 2023-24.
Applications for the current school year (2023-24) are still available. Please contact any attendance center for an application. Applications for the SY 2023-24, will be available August 2023. If you have any questions, please contact Donna Convey, Business Manager at (605) 669-2258 or by email at donna.convey@k12.sd.us