The latest Free and Reduced-Price Percentage Report is posted in the accordion below. Beginning SY 21-22, the report will contain a narrative that outlines the use of school meal data (including annual determinations and Special Provision Options), as well as an explanation of the free and reduced-price calculation.
During School Year (SY) 20-21 there was a significant decline in the number of SFAs who reported free and reduced-price lunch eligibility data as part of operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). This decline was largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) waivers, which includes Child Nutrition Response #59: Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) Operations through School Year 2020-2021 – EXTENSION. Operation of SFSP/SSO does not require the use of free and reduced-price eligibility as all meals are provided at no cost and are reimbursed at the same rate, thus making the collection of individual income eligibility unnecessary. Most SFAs continued SFSP/SSO operation during SY 20-21. Therefore, the Free and Reduced-Price Percentage Report for SY 20-21 contains very limited data reflecting only those SFAs who continued with NSLP operation during SY 20-21. For SY 20-21, the Free and Reduced-Price Percentage Report can be requested on a case by case basis, by submitting a custom data request at https://www.azed.gov/data). The requester shall detail their needs for the free and reduced-price lunch eligibility data for SY 20-21.
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) is excited to announce a new partnership with the Chef Ann Foundation, Life Time Foundation, and Whole Kids Foundation! These organizations are part of the newly formed ScratchWorks Collective and are dedicated to improving the quality of school meals and love sharing their expertise with school nutrition professionals. These partners look forward to supporting 10 Arizona Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) in a three-phase program to help operators regain their kitchens and menus as they recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chef Ann Foundation will kick-off this collaborative work by sending a culinary trained school food operational expert to each of the selected LEAs for a one-day on-site consultation to create a two-year plan with built-in mentoring designed to transform your kitchens, develop your staff, and take control of your finances to support the menu of your dreams.
