West Hartford Public Schools has been able to offer free meals to all students this school year with funding from a state grant. Based upon the formula for this funding, free meals for all students will end on December 23, 2022.

When students return from the vacation week on January 3, 2023, we will return to paid meal service in the cafeteria (except for students who have been approved for free or reduced-priced

meals). Meal prices beginning January 3, 2023 will be as follows:

West Hartford Meal Prices beginning January 3, 2023

Elementary Breakfast $1.50; Lunch $3.25

Middle & High Breakfast $1.75; Lunch $3.50

Eligible Reduced (All Grade Levels) Breakfast Free; Lunch $ .40

1. Complete an online application by clicking here or on red box below.
2. Print an application from this link. Return the completed application to your school office or the Nutrition Services Office in Town Hall.
3. Request an application from your school office. Return the completed application to your school office or the Nutrition Services Office in Town Hall.

You can also click on the "Free and Reduced Lunch" tab at https://www.whps.org/offices-and-programs/nutrition-services for applications and more information.

If a student’s meal account becomes depleted, Nutrition Services will still provide a meal of the student’s choice. Students will be allowed to borrow for three days at elementary schools, two days at middle schools, and one day at high schools. Students will not be allowed to borrow for snacks or any a la carte items.

If your child’s account goes into the negative, we will send you notification either through our email system or a letter in the mail if you do not have an email address on file.

We encourage all families to register on http://www.paypams.com to receive low balance email notifications. Paypams is our online payment system which offers several services for FREE including low balance email notifications. You can also check your child’s balance at any time, check what your child is purchasing for meals/snacks and apply for free and reduced meals electronically. It takes 1-2 business days before balances and cafeteria purchases can be displayed for new registrants and it will be from the point you register going

forward.

These services are all free and you are not required to put money on your child’s account through Paypams to receive these benefits.

Before you apply, please wait to see if you receive a Notice of Direct Certification for free or reduced-price meals.

Children receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Family Assistance (TFA) or Medicaid (HUSKY A) benefits may be directly certified and automatically eligible for free meals without applying for benefits.

Some children who receive Medicaid (HUSKY A) benefits may also be directly certified and automatically eligible for reduced-price meals.

To save you time and effort, the information you provided on your Free and Reduced-price School Meals Application may be shared with other programs for which your children may qualify. We must have your permission to share this information with other programs.

Please complete this form (Addendum A English or Spanish) and return to your school for any additional benefits you are interested in receiving. By signing for the benefits, you are certifying that you are the parent/guardian of the children for whom the application is being made. Note: Submitting this form will not change whether your children get free or reduced-price meals.

If you have any questions, please contact your school office.

Nondiscrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442;

Email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.