Recently, the U.S. Departments of Education (USDE), Agriculture (USDA), and Health and Human Services (USDHHS) provided guidance to states regarding access to school meals for foster children as related to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.  The Act was designed to improve access to school meals for children in foster care. 

Foster children are eligible for free school meals based only on documentation of their foster status and do not need a free/reduced meal application.   The California Department of Education has developed a process, through CALPADS, that allows public LEAs to directly certify foster children. 

• Community Eligibility Provision
• CDE Letter to the Field
• USDE, USDA, USDHHS Letter to States