New State Guidelines Set for Free or Reduced Lunch

The Michigan Department of Education has released its latest household income guidelines for free or reduced lunch and free milk for Michigan families – including those in the Dearborn Public Schools district.

In Dearborn, .

The guidelines were established by the United States Department of Agriculture and apply to school districts throughout Michigan.

The income guidelines are effective from July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013.

Here are the scales for free meals or free milk and reduced price meals provided by the Michigan Department of Education:

Free Meals or Free Milk

$14,521

$19,669

$24,817

$29,965

$35,113

$40,261

$45,409

$50,557

*For each additional family member add $5,148.

Reduced Price Meals

$20,665

$27,991

$35,317

$42,643

$49,969

$57,295

$64,621

$71,947

* For each additional family member add $7,326.

Participating schools, child care centers, and family day care home sponsors will provide a form for applying for free or reduced price meals. Only one application is required per household. Most participating centers and all participating family child care homes provide meals to all enrolled participants without any separate charge.

Children or foster children who are recipients of Michigan’s Family Independence Program, Food Assistance Program, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, or who are enrolled in Head Start, Even Start, an At-Risk afterschool center, or an emergency shelter automatically qualify for free meals.

For more information on eligibility and enrollment in Dearborn Public Schools, call the Business Services Department at 313-827-3018.