Archdiocese of Newark Offers Free and Reduced-Price School Meals for Eligible Students in 2025-2026 School Year

The Archdiocese of Newark announced on August 13, 2025 that low cost, nutritious school lunches and/or breakfasts and/or milk are available to all students enrolled in the school.  Meals, snacks and/or milk will be provided free or at a reduced price to children living in households whose gross incomes are at or below those shown for their household size on the income scale below.  The School Meals and Summer EBT Application is available to households of all children enrolled in the school.

Effective from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026
(As announced by the United States Department of Agriculture)

Application forms are available on the school’s website and at your child’s school. Applications can be submitted at any time during the school year. If a household member becomes unemployed or the household size or income changes during the school year, parents are encouraged to contact the school so that all children receive the proper benefits. For the school officials to determine eligibility, the household must provide the following information listed on the application: names of all household members; household income received by each household member; type of income; frequency of income such as weekly, every two weeks, twice a month or monthly; and the signature and last four digits of the social security number of an adult household member certifying that the information provided is correct. The information provided by parents on the application will be kept confidential and will be used only for determining eligibility.

Foster children, Head Start enrollees, homeless, migrant and runaway children, as defined in 7 CFR 245.2, are categorically eligible for free meals or free milk. Households receiving assistance under NJ SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Medicaid for their children will be notified of their eligibility for free benefits unless the household notifies the school that it chooses to decline benefits. Households receiving assistance under NJ SNAP or TANF should only submit an application if they are not notified of their eligibility by a specified date determined by the school. Households with children that are certified participants in SNAP or TANF may submit school meal applications for their children using the abbreviated information as indicated on the school meal application and instructions. WIC participants may also be eligible for free and reduced price meals. Parents/guardians should contact their child’s school for more information.

The school will advise parents of their child’s eligibility within 10 working days of receipt of the application. Any parent dissatisfied with the eligibility determination may contact the school to request an informal conference or may appeal the decision by requesting a formal hearing.

For up to 30 operating days into the new school year (or until a new eligibility determination is made, whichever comes first) an individual child who was determined as free or reduced price eligible during the previous year will continue with this determination. When children move to a new LEA, either at the beginning of the new school year or during the summer months, the new LEA is encouraged to use the former LEA’s eligibility determination from the previous school year and carryover the child’s eligibility status. Once determinations are completed, school officials are required to verify three percent of the approved School Meals and Summer EBT Applications on file. For additional information, contact your child’s school.

This educational institution is controlled by a religious organization. This institution administers its lunch program in accordance with governing religious tenets and applicable law, which will be interpreted to invoke the religious exemption under applicable sections of USDA’s Title IX regulations, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, 42 USC 2000bb et seq., and any other applicable exemptions.

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: usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.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:

1. Mail:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. Fax:
   (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. Email:
   program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The following school districts and charter schools participate in these programs: