Doral Academy of Texas Schools continues to offer free and reduced-price meals for children who meet Income Eligibility Guidelines set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture. Each campus and the Child Nutrition Services department has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by anyone on request.
Doral Academy of Texas offers information about eligibility, benefits, and any actions households should take to apply for benefits. Applications are available at:
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- Schools
- Online at Linq Connect
- Doral Academy of Texas Child Nutrition – Child Nutrition Services Office, 1333 Fire Cracker Dr., Buda, TX 78610
Criteria for Free and Reduced-Price Meal Benefits
The following criteria will be used to determine a child’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meal benefits:
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- Income
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- Household income that is at or below the income eligibility levels
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- Categorical or Automatic Eligibility
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- Household receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). If you believe that your household might benefit from state-funded programs, please access the Texas Health and Human Services website for details of program qualifications.
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- Program Participant
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- Child’s status as a foster child, homeless, runaway, migrant, or displaced by a declared disaster
- Child’s enrollment in Head Start or Even Start
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Income Eligibility
All Doral Academy of Texas households are encouraged to complete an online meal application annually to determine if your student(s) qualify to receive free or reduced-price meal benefits. The quickest way to submit your application and have it approved is to complete the process online at Linq Connect. Doral Academy of Texas also accepts paper applications. Paper applications should be completed online, printed, signed by the person completing the application, and then scanned and emailed to mike.jones@somersetacademytx.org
Those individuals filling out the application will need to provide the following information:
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- Names of all household members
- Amount, frequency, and source of current income for each household member
- The last 4 digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application or, if the adult does not have a Social Security number, check the box for “No Social Security number”
- Signature of an adult household member attesting that the information provided is correct
Categorical or Program Eligibility
Doral Academy of Texas works with local and state agencies to identify all children who are categorically eligible to receive meal benefits. Doral Academy of Texas will notify the households of these children that they do not need to complete an application. Any household that does not receive a letter and feels it should have, should contact the Doral Academy of Texas Child Nutrition Services office at (512) 436-3881 or email the Director of Child Nutrition Services at mike.jones@somersetacademytx.org.
Any household that wishes to decline benefits should contact the Doral Academy of Texas Child Nutrition Services office at (512)436-3881 or email the Director of Child Nutrition Services at mike.jones@somersetacademytx.org.
Applications may be submitted anytime during the school year. The information households provide on the application will be used to determine eligibility. Applications may also be verified by the school officials at any time during the school year.
Determining Eligibility
Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, Doral Academy of Texas Child Nutrition Services will review applications and determine eligibility. Households or guardians dissatisfied with the Reviewing Official’s eligibility determination may wish to discuss the decision with the Reviewing Official on an informal basis. Households wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally at (512) 436-3881 or in writing to Doral Academy of Texas Child Nutrition Department, Attn: Deputy Superintendent, 1333 Fire Cracker Dr., Buda, TX 78610
Unexpected Circumstances
If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact Doral Academy of Texas Child Nutrition Services. Such changes may qualify the children of the household to receive free or reduced-price meal benefits if the household’s income falls at or below the Income Eligibility Guidelines.
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 Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.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:
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- mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or - email:
Program.Intake@usda.gov
- mail:
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
File a Federal Complaint
FNS monitors complaints about USDA Foods and coordinates the resolution of health hazards with the FNS Office of Food Safety for states, Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs), and recipient agencies participating in any of the food distribution programs.
