Dear Parent/Guardian:
Children need healthy meals to learn. Sylvania Schools offers healthy meals every school day!!  Below are some common questions and answers to help you with the application process.
	Who can get FREE or REDUCED-PRICE meals? 
•	All children in households receiving benefits from Ohio SNAP, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)] or Ohio TANF, are eligible for free meals.
•	Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
•	Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.
•	Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if your household’s income is within the limits on the Federal Income 
Eligibility Guidelines.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILDREN QUALIFY AS HOMELESS, MIGRANT, OR RUNAWAY?
Do the members of your household lack a permanent address? Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other temporary housing arrangement? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Are any children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household? If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions and haven’t been told your children will get free meals, please call or e-mail our Student Services office at: 419-824-8583 
DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A NEW APPLICATION FOR EACH CHILD?
No. Fill out one Free and Reduced-Price School Meals Application for all Sylvania School district students in your household. 
SHOULD I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION IF I RECEIVED A LETTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR SAYING MY CHILDREN ARE ALREADY APPROVED FOR FREE MEALS for THIS SCHOOL YEAR?
No, but please read the email you received carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, contact Student Nutrition, Sylvania Schools, at 419-824-8655 or ldietrich@sylvaniaschools.org.  
DO I APPLY ONLINE?  
Yes!  Applying online is a faster, more secure way to apply. Visit www.sylvaniaschools.org  click on Our District and then click on the Student Nutrition link and select the hyperlink for the online application to begin the online application process. Contact, Student Nutrition, 419-824-8655 ldietrich@sylvaniaschools.org  if you have any questions about, or need help with, the online application process.

MY APPLICATION WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR, SHOULD I FILL OUT A NEW APPLICATION FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR?
Yes!!  Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first 30 days of the next school year.  
 Note:  Temporary status expiration date for the 2025-2026 school year application is:  September 29, 2025
 You must fill out a new application for every new school year.  If you do not fill out a new application and do not receive approval by the school district that your student/students are eligible for free or reduced priced meals, your child will be charged the full price for all meals. School meals are the parent/guardian financial responsibility.  
I GET WIC.  CAN MY CHILDREN GET FREE MEALS? 
Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.  You must fill out an online application.
WILL THE INFORMATION FROM MY APPLICATION BE CHECKED FOR ACCURACY?
 Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof of the household income you report.
IF I DO NOT QUALIFY NOW, WILL I BE ABLE TO APPLY LATER? 
Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year but prior to the last month of the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible for free and reduced-price meals if there is a reduction in household income. When in doubt…fill it out!
WHAT IF I DISAGREE ON THE DECISION OF AWARDING BENEFITS? 
You should talk to Student Nutrition office officials. You also may ask for a hearing by writing or emailing: 
Ray Holston Student Nutrition Supervisor, Sylvania Schools, 7400 Cougar Lane, Sylvania Ohio 43560, 419-824-8511, rholston@sylvaniaschools.org
MAY I APPLY IF SOMEONE IN MY HOUSE IS NOT A CITIZEN?
 Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced-price meals. 
WHAT IF SOME HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS HAVE NO INCOME TO REPORT?
Household members may not receive some types of income we ask you to report on the application, or may not receive income at all. Whenever this happens, please write a 0 (zero) in the field. However, if any income fields are left empty or blank, those will be counted as zeroes. Please be careful when leaving income fields blank, as we will assume you meant to do so.
WE ARE IN THE MILITARY; DO WE REPORT OUR INCOME DIFFERENTLY? 
Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash value allowances for 
off-base housing, food, or clothing, it must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income.
MY FAMILY NEEDS MORE HELP, ARE THERE OTHER WAYS TO GET HELP?
To find out how to apply for assistance benefits by contacting your local assistance office or call Ohio Job and Family Services at 1-866-244-0071.
For the 2025-2026 school year, the price of reduced and paid lunches continues this year as follows:
Grades	Breakfast	Lunch	
K-5	$2.25	$3.30	
6-8	$2.25	$3.50	
9-12	$2.25	$3.50	
Reduced Price Students, All Grades	
$0.30	
$0.40	
If you have other questions or need help, feel free to reach out to myself or Laurie Dietrich, Student Nutrition Office Secretary at 
419-824-8655 or email: ldietrich@sylvaniaschools.org

Ray Holston, Student Nutrition Director at Ph: 419-824-8511 or email me at: rholston@sylvaniaschools.org

This institution is an equal opportunity employer.
Non-Discrimination Statement: 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.  https://www.fns.usda.gov/civil-rights/usda-nondiscrimination-statement