Castro Valley Unified School District 
School Year 2025-2026 
Public Media Release for Free and Reduced-Price Meals  

Castro Valley Unified School District announces its policy to serve nutritious meals every school day under the National  School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. Effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, children are eligible  for free or reduced-price meals if the household income is less than or equal to the federal guidelines.  

Free Meal Income Eligibility Guidelines Reduced-Price Meals Income Eligibility Guidelines 

Households do not need to turn in an application when the household receives a notification letter saying that all  children automatically qualify for free meals when any household member receives benefits from SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR.  Children who meet the definition of foster, homeless, migrant, or runaway, and children enrolled in their school’s Head  Start program are eligible for free meals. Contact school officials if any child in the household is not on the notification  letter. The household must let school officials know if they do not want to receive free or reduced-price meals.  

Applications will be sent to the household with a letter about the free and reduced-price meal program. Households that  want to apply for meal benefits, must fill out one application for all children in the household and give it to the nutrition  office at 19722 Center Street Castro Valley, CA 94546. For a simple and secure method to apply, use our online  application at https://www.schoolcafe.com/application-guest. Contact Stephanie Myers at 510.537.3000 ext 7015 for  help filling out the application. The school will let you know if your application is approved or denied for free or reduced price meals.  

Households may turn in an application at any time during the school year. If you are not eligible now, but your  household income goes down, household size goes up, or a household member starts receiving SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR,  you may turn in an application at that time. Information given on the application will be used to determine eligibility and  may be verified at any time during the school year by school officials. The last four digits of the Social Security number  from any adult household or checking that you do not have a Social Security number is required if you include income on  the application.  

Households that receive Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits, may  be eligible for free or reduced-price meals by filling out an application. 

Foster children are eligible for free meals and may be included as a household member if the foster family chooses to  also apply for the non-foster children on the same application. Including foster children as a household member may  help the non-foster children qualify for free or reduced-price meals. If the non-foster children are not eligible, this does  not keep foster children from receiving free meals.  

Your child’s eligibility status from last school year will continue into the new school year for up to 30 school days or until  the school processes your new application, or your child is otherwise certified for free or reduced-price meals. After the 30 school days, your child will have to pay full price for meals, unless the household receives a notification letter for free  or reduced-price meals. School officials do not have to send reminder or expired eligibility notices. 

If you do not agree with the decision or results of verification, you may discuss it with school officials. You also have the right to a fair hearing, which may be requested by calling or writing the hearing official: Amy Glodde, 19722 Center  Street Castro Valley, CA 94546, 510.537.3000 ext 7014. 

Non-Discrimination Statement 

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies,  the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are  prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status,  family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for  prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs).  Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large  print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or  contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information  may be made available in languages other than English. 

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027,  found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to  USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form,  call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 

mail: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410 

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 

fax: 

202-690-7442; or 

email: 

Program.Intake@usda.gov. 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.