News Summary
The Coronado Unified School District has announced a new initiative to offer free nutritious meals to all students during the upcoming school year. The program aims to ensure that every child has access to healthy food options. Families meeting certain income criteria can automatically qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Parents are encouraged to submit a single application for all their children. This initiative underscores the district’s commitment to supporting student health and academic performance.
Coronado – The Coronado Unified School District (CUSD) has announced that it will offer free nutritious meals to all students for the 2024-2025 school year. This initiative, part of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, will take effect from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Students will receive breakfasts and lunches at no charge, ensuring that all children have access to healthy food options during the school day.
The district is still required to assess eligibility for free and reduced-price meals based on household income relative to federal guidelines. Households that earn an income at or below the federal income thresholds will be qualified for either free or reduced-price meals.
Families already receiving benefits from programs such as CalFresh, CalWORKs, or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) will automatically qualify their children for free meals without needing to submit an application. In addition, children who are categorized as foster, homeless, migrant, or runaway are also eligible for complimentary meals.
Parents are encouraged to inform school officials if any children in their household are not included in the notification letter concerning free meals. On the other hand, households that wish to opt out of being considered for free or reduced-price meals must notify school officials of their decision.
To facilitate access to meal benefits, applications will be available both online and at each school site office. Households will need to submit only one application for all children enrolled in the district and send it to the nutrition office located at 201 6th Street, Coronado, CA 92118. Parents can complete the online application through the provided website, and for any issues or questions, they can contact Charity Campbell at 619-522-8907 x2085 for assistance.
Notifications regarding the outcomes of submitted applications will be communicated to households by school officials. Importantly, applications can be submitted at any time throughout the school year. Changes in household income or size may influence eligibility, warranting resubmission of the application.
Verification of application details may take place at any time during the school year. The last four digits of the Social Security number of any adult in the household will be required for income reporting purposes on applications. Additionally, households receiving Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits may also qualify for free or reduced-price meals by completing an application.
In instances where foster children are included in the same application as non-foster children, this may help the latter qualify for free meals, further promoting meal access across various household dynamics. For those who qualified for free or reduced-price meals in the previous school year, this eligibility status continues for up to 30 school days into the new school year while awaiting the processing of new applications.
It should be noted that school officials are not obligated to send reminders or notices about the expiration of eligibility. However, parents possess the right to discuss decisions or verification results with school officials. Should there be any concerns, parents may request a fair hearing by contacting Donnie Salamanca at 619-522-8900 x1016.
This initiative by CUSD reinforces the commitment to ensuring that every child has access to nutritious meals, thus supporting their health and academic performance.
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Additional Resources
- Captiva Sanibel: School District to Provide Free Breakfast and Lunch
- Wikipedia: Nutrition in Schools
- Richmond Standard: WCCUSD Announces Free School Meals for All District Students
- Google Search: Free School Meal Programs
- Lubbock Online: Local School Districts to Offer Free Summer Meals Programs
- Encyclopedia Britannica: School Lunch
- Richmond Standard: WCCUSD Announces Free Summer Meal Program
- Google News: School Lunch Initiatives
Author: STAFF HERE CORONADO
The Coronado Staff Writer represents the experienced team at HERECoronado.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Coronado, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Coronado Island Film Festival, productions at Lamb’s Players Theatre, community workshops at John D. Spreckels Center, and iconic celebrations at Hotel del Coronado. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Coronado Chamber of Commerce and Visit Coronado, plus leading businesses in hospitality, dining, and tourism that drive the local economy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERESanDiego.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, and HERELosAngeles.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape.
