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Media Contact: Fred Lewis; [email protected], (202) 412-2167

The District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education announces the criteria for determining the eligibility of children to receive free and reduced price meals for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the Special Milk Program (SMP) for free milk in schools.

For schools participating in the NSLP and SMP, a letter or notice and family application forms are distributed to parents of all children in attendance at school at the beginning of each school year. The letter or notice shall contain the following information:

• In schools participating in a meal service program, the eligibility criteria for reduced price benefits with an explanation that households with incomes less than or equal to the reduced price criteria would be eligible for either free or reduced price meals, or in schools participating in the free milk option, the eligibility criteria for free milk benefits;
• How a household may make an application for free or reduced price meals or for free milk for its children;
• An explanation that an application for free or reduced price benefits cannot be approved unless it contains complete information as described in paragraph (1)(i) of the definition of Documentation in §245.2;
• An explanation that households with children who are members of currently certified Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) households may submit applications for these children with the abbreviated information described in paragraph (2)(ii) of the definition of Documentation in §245.2¹;
• An explanation that the information on the application may be verified at any time during the school year;
• How a household may apply for benefits at any time during the school year as circumstances change;
• A statement to the effect that children having parents or guardians who become unemployed are eligible for free or reduced price meals or for free milk during the period of unemployment, provided, that the loss of income causes the household income during the period of unemployment to be within the eligibility criteria;
• The statement: “In the operation of child feeding programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age or disability;”
• An explanation that Head Start enrollees and foster, homeless, migrant, and runaway children, as defined in §245.2, are categorically eligible for free meals and free milk, and their families should contact the school for more information;
• How a household may appeal the decision of the local educational agency (LEA) with respect to the application under the hearing procedure set forth in §245.7. The letter or notice shall be accompanied by a copy of the application form required under §245.6.
• A statement to the effect that the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) participants may be eligible for free or reduced price meals.

The schools will receive free or reduced price meal reimbursement based on the following income scales² from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020, calculated on annual income.

Family Size	Eligibility Scale for Free Meals	Family Size	Eligibility Scale for Reduced Price Meals
One	$16,237	One	$23,107
Two	$21,983	Two	$31,284
Three	$27,729	Three	$39,461
Four	$33,475	Four	$47,638
Five	$39,221	Five	$55,815
Six	$44,967	Six	$63,992
Seven	$50,713	Seven	$72,169
Eight	$56,459	Eight	$80,346
Each additional family member	+$5,746	Each additional family member	+$8,177

If you have questions about applying for meals, please contact your LEA. A complete listing of LEAs participating in the 2019-20 NSLP and SMP with contact information is below:

National School Lunch Program

SCHOOL NAME	CONTACT NAME
Achievement Preparatory Academy PCS	Gregory Gaines	(202) 839-2998
Apple Tree Early Learning PCS	Tony Taylor	(202) 526-1503
Basis DC PCS	Portia Cameron	(202) 397-5437
Breakthrough Montessori PCS	Emily Hedin	(202) 246-1928
Bridges PCS	Monique Mitchell	(202) 545-0515
Briya PCS	William Bletzinger	(202) 420-7070
Capital City PCS	Ayana Johnson	(202) 808-9726
Cedar Tree Academy PCS	LaTonya  Henderson	(202) 610-4193
Center City PCS	Russ Williams	(202) 589-0202
Cesar Chavez PCS	Cheryl Cunningham	(202) 487-0298
Creative Minds International PCS	Heather Hesslink	(202) 588-0370
DC Bilingual PCS	Lola Bloom	(202) 750-6674
DC International School	Luisa Juarez	(202) 808-9033
DC Preparatory Academy PCS	Emily Johannsen	(202) 635-4590
DC Public Schools (DCPS)	Robert Jaber	(202) 442-6133
DC Scholars PCS	Tiffany Green	(202) 559-6138
Digital Pioneers Academy PCS	Antonio Washington	(202) 677-3522
Dept of Youth Rehabilitation (DYRS)	Kimelia Austin	(202) 299-3208
Digital Pioneers PCS	Nima Farshchi	(301) 717-2792
Eagle Academy PCS	Vernal Crooms	(202) 544-2646
Early Childhood Academy PCS	Thann Ingraham	(202) 373-0035
EL Haynes PCS	Sebastien Durand	(202) 667-4446
Elsie Whitlow Stokes PCS	Erika Bryant	(202) 265-7237
Friendship PCS	Jim Basham	(202) 281-1700
Harmony DC PCS	Evren Culha	(202) 529-7500
Hope Community PCS	Trina Gross	(202) 722-4421
Howard Univ. Middle School	Leslie Boler	(202) 806-7725
Idea PCS	Nicole Seward	(202) 399-4750
Ingenuity Prep PCS	Brittany Hullinger	(202) 562-0391
Inspired Teaching Demonstration PCS	Kate Keplinger	(202) 248-6825
Kingsman Academy PCS	D’Amber Barnes	(202) 547-1028
KIPP Academy PCS	Dionna Day	(202) 427-7116
Latin American Montessori Bilingual PCS	Brian Nielsen	(202) 726-6200
LAYC Career Academy PCS	Bernadette Kreh	(202) 319-2244
Lee Montessori PCS	Darien Nolen	(202) 779-9740
Mary McLeod Bethune PCS	Don Cole	(202) 459-4710
Maya Angelou PCS	Marvin Harden	(202) 797-8250
Meridian PCS	Michael Russell	(202) 387-9830
Monument Academy PCS	Greg Gaskins	(202) 545-3180
Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS	Danielle Revers	(202) 750-7060
National Collegiate Prep PCS	Carlisa Hurtt	(202) 832-7737
Next Step PCS	Joshua Brown	(202) 491-4647
Paul PCS	William Henderson	(202) 291-7499
Perry Street Prep PCS	Rhonda Gueory	(202) 529-4400
Richard Wright PCS	Alisha Roberts-Funderburk	(202) 388-1011
Rocketship Rise Academy PCS	Kelly Giampaoli	(408) 507-6052
Roots PCS	Rasheki Kuykendall	(202) 882-8073
Seed PCS	Ken Arndt	(202) 248-7773
SELA PCS	Camerra Taliaferro	(202) 670-7352
Shining Stars Montessori Academy	Cherita Moore-Gause	(202) 723-1467
Statesmen College Preparatory Academy for Boys PCS	Sean Flora	(202) 505-9072
The Children's Guild PCS	Michelle L. Holewinski	(443) 829-3880
Thurgood Marshall Academy PCHS	Nora Moore	(202) 563-6862
Two Rivers PCS	Gail Williams	(202) 388-1360
Washington Global PCS	Elizabeth Torres	(202) 796-2415
Washington Latin PCS	Martita Fleming	(202) 223-1111
Washington Leadership Academy PCS	Mandy Leiter	(310) 882-0141
Washington Yu Ying PCS	Beth Yurasko	(202) 635-1950

National School Lunch Program – Private Schools

SCHOOL NAME	CONTACT NAME	CONTACT NUMBER
Bishop John T Walker School for Boys	Ian Keener	(202) 591-3073
San Miguel	Alvin Zepeda	(202) 232-8345
Washington School for Girls	Charlyne Ivory	(202) 678-1113

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.  

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: US Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: [email protected].

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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¹To review §245.2, please visit the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
²Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines