Dedham School Public Release
School Year 2025-2026 Free and reduced-price meal benefit applications are available for
families with students enrolled in Dedham School which is participating in the National School
Lunch Program (NSLP). Meals will be provided to enrolled students at no charge in Maine
public schools participating in the National School Lunch Program due to State of Maine
Legislation.
While meals are provided for no charge, it is still important to complete the School Year 2025-
2026 free and reduced-price meal benefit application. Students may be eligible for additional
benefits, such as the USDA Summer EBT program.
The following household income guidelines for School Year 2025-2026 have been provided by
the United States Department of Agriculture:
Household Size Maximum Household Income Eligible for Free Meals | Maximum Household Income Eligible for Reduced Price Meals | |||||
Annually Monthly Weekly | Annually Monthly Weekly | |||||
1 | 20,345 | 1,696 | 392 | 28,953 | 2,413 557 | |
2 | 27,495 | 2,292 | 529 | 39,128 | 3,261 753 | |
3 | 34,645 | 2,888 | 667 | 49,303 | 4,109 949 | |
4 | 41,795 | 3,483 | 804 | 59,478 | 4,957 1,144 | |
5 | 48,945 | 4,079 | 942 | 69,653 | 5,805 1,340 | |
6 | 56,095 | 4,675 | 1,079 | 79,828 | 6,653 1,536 | |
7 | 63,245 | 5,271 | 1,217 | 90,003 | 7,501 1,731 | |
8 | 70,395 | 5,867 | 1,354 | 100,178 | 8,349 1,927 | |
Each add’l member | 7,150 | 596 | 138 | 10,175 | 848 198 | |
To apply, fill out a Free and Reduced Price Meal Benefit Application and return it to your local
school district. The information provided on the application is confidential. Applications may
be submitted any time during the school year. A complete application is required as a condition
of eligibility. A complete application includes: (1) household income from all sources or Food
Stamp/TANF case number, (2) names of all household members, and (3) the signature and last
four digits of social security number or indication of no social security number of adult
household member signing the application. School officials may verify current income at any
time during the school year.
Foster children may be eligible regardless of the income of the household with whom they
reside.
If a family member becomes unemployed or if family size changes, the family should contact the
school to file a new application. Such changes may make the children of the family eligible.
Households will be notified of their children’s eligibility status for free or reduced price
meals. If any children were not listed on the eligibility notice for families receiving SNAP,
TANF or FDPIR, the household should contact the school to have free meal benefits extended to
those children.If any child(ren) was not listed on the eligibility notice, the household should contact their local
school district to have free meal benefits extended to that child(ren).
Dedham School’s determining official will review the application and determine eligibility. If a
parent/guardian is dissatisfied with the ruling of the determining official, they may wish to
discuss the decision with the hearing official on an informal basis or he/she may make a request
either orally or in writing to the school district’s hearing official.
For more information, contact:
Wendy McDonald, Food Service Director, AOS #47 Orrington/Dedham, 17 School Street,
Orrington, Maine 04474, (207)825-3697, w.mcdonald@cdsedu.org
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil
rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of
race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability,
age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
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: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-
0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.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.govThis institution is an equal opportunity provider.
The Maine Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual
orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, religion, ancestry or national
origin.
Complaints of discrimination must be filed at the office of the Maine Human Rights Commission,
51 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0051. If you wish to file a discrimination
complaint electronically, visit the Human Rights Commission website
at https://www.maine.gov/mhrc/file/instructions and complete an intake questionnaire. Maine is
an equal opportunity provider and employer.