SMMUSD Notifies Residents About Free or Reduced Meal Programs

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District wants to notify residents about its free and reduced-price meal program for SMMUSD students. Effective through June 30, 2019, children will be eligible for these programs as long as their household income is less than or equal to federal guidelines. SMMUSD will serve meals for every school in the district under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and/or Afterschool Snack. With about 27 percent of students in the SMMUSD qualifying each year, it is important that households are aware of what assistance they might be able to receive.   

In light of recent dissatisfaction about the services brought up in the school board’s June 14 meeting, SMMUSD will soon share updates to its programs. These updates, as requested by parents, will include ceasing to offer fried foods, disuse of microwave ovens, offering chicken that is hormone and antibiotic free, and offering fresh fruit and salad bars. 

Households are not required to turn in an application for free or reduced meals if the household receives a letter saying that all children automatically qualify or if any household member already receives assistance from CalFresh, CalWORKs or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). Children who are foster, homeless, migrant or runaway as well as those enrolled in their school’s Head Start Program are eligible for free meals. 

Applications can be found online at smmusd.org/foodservices. For assistance with the application, call the Food & Nutrition Services at 310.450.8338 ext. 70228.