Disaster Relief

Flooding Disaster and Eligibility for Free School Meals - August 2007

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act covers students who become homeless due to natural disasters such as hurricanes and flooding. Students from families who have had to temporarily leave their homes and relocate to another area due to flooding may be eligible to receive free school meals. Each public school district's homeless liaison will determine, on a case-by-case basis, if a student qualifies for free school meals under the McKinney-Vento Act.

Please contact your district’s homeless liaison or Mary Maronek, Coordinator, Education for Homeless Children and Youth program, (608) 261-6322 for additional information regarding the McKinney-Vento Act.

You may also find additional guidance regarding homeless students at the School Nutrition Team's Documents and Forms webpage. The guidance permits school officials to accept documentation that students are homeless from the local educational liaison or directors of homeless shelters where students reside. Documentation to substantiate free meal eligibility must consist of the student’s name or list of names, effective date(s), and the signature of the local educational liaison or the director of the homeless shelter. This documentation is acceptable in lieu of a free school meal application.

For questions about this information, contact Julie A. Cox (608) 267-9206

Last updated on 2/25/2008 11:52:34 AM