Pubic schools in Wood County offer free and reduced price lunches based on family income eligibility.

Students and families will be receiving information from their respective school districts, beginning in August with letters sent to households. Applications can also be obtained at the respective schools.

Reduced price meals are 40 cents for lunch and 30 cents for breakfast. That is a savings, as an example, in Alba-Golden ISD from the regular price of $2 for breakfast and $3 for lunch.

Income guidelines are based on household size, with income for a one-person household at $16,237 annually for free meals and $23,107 for reduced price.

As the household increases in size, the income rises by $5,746 per person for free meals and $8,177 for reduced price meals.

For example the eligibility guideline for a five-person household is $39,221 for free meals and $55,815 for reduced price. On a monthly basis that corresponds to $3,269 for free and $4,652 for reduced price meals.

Households enrolled in certain programs are automatically eligible.

The following criteria will be used to determine a child’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meal benefits:

Income

1. Household income that is at or below the income eligibility levels

Categorical or Automatic Eligibility

1. Household receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

Program Participant

1. Child’s status as a foster child, homeless, runaway, migrant, or displaced by a declared disaster

2. Child’s enrollment in Head Start or Even Start

For those households that qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on income, an adult in the household must fill out free and reduced-price meal application and return it to the school. Those individuals filling out the application will need to provide the following information:

1. Names of all household members

2. Amount, frequency, and source of current income for each household member

3. Last 4 digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application or, if the adult does not have a social security number, check the box for “No Social Security number”

4. Signature of an adult household member attesting that the information provided is correct.