LaFAYETTE — Students in the Chambers County School District could be eligible for free and reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.

To qualify for free meals, students must meet one or more of the following specific criteria:

• Children in households receiving benefits from Alabama SNAP, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or Alabama TANF;
• Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court;
• Children who are participating in their school’s Head Start program; and
• Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant.

When eligible for the free or reduced lunch program, homes will be notified by the school district. Furthermore, if known to the school district, households will be notified of any child’s eligibility for free meals based on the individual child’s designation as Other Source Categorically Eligible, as defined by law. This includes homeless, migrant, runaway, or foster children, as well as those enrolled in Head Start or an eligible pre-kindergarten program.

Reduced-priced meals are also available for students whose household family income falls within qualifying federal guidelines. A reduced-priced lunch for elementary and middle school students is $0.30, and $0.40 for high school students.

For additional information, contact Child Nutrition Program Director Montray Thompson at 334-864-9343, or via email at thompsonm@chambersk12.org.