FRAC Alert: Comments Due Tomorrow for the Community Eligibility Proposed Rule

Comments Due Tomorrow for the Community Eligibility Proposed Rule

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a proposed rule on community eligibility (pdf) and is seeking your input.

Comments are due Friday, January 3.

Follow these steps to comment on the rule:

1. Download the CBPP/FRAC model comments (MS Word document). Make sure to enter your organization’s name in the text of the comments. You can customize the letter to include information about your work, and what you’ve seen in your state or community.
2. Go to the Regulations.gov website to submit your comments. 
3. Follow the “Comment Now” link to reach the page where you can add your contact information, and use the upload file to submit your comments.

Background
Community eligibility is the newest opportunity for schools with high percentages of low-income children to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students. It increases participation by children in the school meal programs, reduces labor costs for schools, and can increase federal revenues. In short, it allows for a healthier student body and a healthier school meal budget.

Included in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, community eligibility completely eliminates paper applications. Instead, schools are reimbursed through a formula based on the number of “identified students” – those certified without application for free school meals because they are in foster care or Head Start, are homeless, migrant or living in households that receive SNAP/Food Stamps, TANF cash assistance or the Food Distribution on Indian Reservation benefits.

For additional information and background materials, go to FRAC's community eligibility page.