All schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast Program (SBP) must make free and reduced price meals available to eligible children and all schools and institutions participating in the free milk option of the Special Milk Program (SMP) must make free milk available to eligible children. 

Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application Forms School Year 2012-2013 

The Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application prototype and related materials for School Year 2012-13 are below.  For detailed instructions on the eligibility determination process, please read the materials under Guidance. 

• Letter to Parents (3 pages printed front and back)
• Letter to Parents - Spanish (4 pages printed front and back)
• Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application (2 pages printed front and back)
• Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application - Spanish (2 pages printed front and back)
• Approval-Disapproval Letter to Households (1 page) 
• Direct Certification Notification

Optional application-related materials that may be provided to households: 

• Sharing Information with Other Programs (1 page) 

Guidance: 

• Critical Information for the Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application (3 pages) 
• Eligibility Manual for School Meals
• Guidelines for Use in Schools 

Verification 

Verification is confirmation of eligibility for free and reduced priced meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).  Annually, each Local Educational Agency (LEA) must select and verify a sample of applications approved for meal benefits.  The results of verification must be reported to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) on the LEARS-Verification Summary Report website. 

The verification sample must be selected from households that have submitted an approved "family/household application" as of October 1, 2010.  Verification is not required for children who have been certified for free meals under Direct Certification.      

Verification Information 

• 12 Steps to Conducting Verification
• Local Education Agency Review System (LEARS) Verification Summary Report Frequently Asked Questions
• Verification of Eligibility for School Meals Powerpoint Presentation