Food Services Policy

Policy Statement National School Lunch Program

Free/reduced price meals  The National School Lunch and Breakfast Program is a federally subsidized program and your child(ren) may be eligible to receive free or reduced price meals. You and your child(ren) do not have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for free or reduced price meals. Application for meal benefits must be completed each school year and only one application is needed per household. If you wish to apply, applications can be completed by paper available at elementary, middle & high schools as well as the main Food Service Department Office located at 498 Kelly Ave., Half Moon Bay CA 94019.

Follow this link for meal benefit information and to download the application

Processing of an application takes 7-10 operating days. For more information call the Food Service Office at 650-712-7167.

Frequently Asked Questions

Non-Discrimination Statement 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) 

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at USDA Dept of Agriculture, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov. 

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 

Homeless, runaway, and migrant children

Contact the homeless advocate at your child(ren) school(s) or call 1-650-712-7109 to see if your child(ren) qualify if you have not been informed that they will receive free meals. 

Military housing allowance 

If your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. All other allowances must be included in your gross income. 

Confidentiality 

Food Service officials use the information supplied on the application to decide if your child(ren) should receive free or reduced price meals. This information can be released to other federal education programs and to state health and education programs. 

How to apply for meal benefits/processing time 

Application for meal benefits must be completed each school year and only one application is needed per household. Paper applications are provided to children at participating schools at the beginning of each school year, however should you need another application you can obtain one from the school cafeteria at your child's school or the District’s Food Service office. Once a paper application is complete return it to the school cafeteria manager, school office or mail to Food Service, 498 Kelly Ave., Half Moon Bay CA 94019, making sure to be complete and accurate as possible as incomplete and illegible applications will be returned. Applications are processed in the main Food Service office and benefits begin once eligibility has been determined. Processing of an application takes 7-10 operating days. To reduce processing time we encourage you to apply online. 

Verification 

Your eligibility may be checked at any time during the school year. Food Service officials may ask you to send documentation to prove that your child(ren) should receive free or reduced price meal benefits. 

Fair hearing

If you do not agree with Food Service decision regarding eligibility of your meal benefit application or results to verification, you may discuss it with Food Service officials. You have a right to ask for a fair hearing. You may do this by calling 1-650-712-7167 or writing to the Coordinator of Food Services, 498 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019. 

Reapplication 

You may apply for meal benefits at anytime during the school year, if you are not eligible now. For example, if you have a decrease in household income, become unemployed, have an increase in family size or become a participant of: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (CalFresh), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). 

Use of information statement 

This explains how we will use the information you give us. The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act requires the information on this application. You do not have to give the information, but if you do not, we cannot approve your child for free or reduced price meals. You must include the last four digits of the social security number of the adult househould member who signs the application. The last four digits of the social security number is not required when you apply on behalf of a foster child or you list a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservation (FDPIR) case number or other FDPIR identifier for your child or when you indicate that the adult household member signing the application does not have a social security number. We will use your information to determine if your child is eligible for free or reduced price meals, and for administration and enforcement of the lunch and breakfast programs. We MAY share your eligibility information with education, health, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund, or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program reviews, and law enforcement officials to help them look into violations of program rules. While disclosure of the last four digits of a social security number is voluntary the National School Lunch Act requires the last four digits of a social security number or indication of "none" for approval of the application.