The Delaware Department of Education announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture policy for free and reduced-price meals for families unable to pay the full price for meals served under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and After School Snack Program (ASSP). Each participating school and its administrative office have a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.

In School Year 2023-2024, schools will continue to operate the NSLP, SBP, and ASSP under normal operations and will be collecting free or reduced-price meal eligibility applications, unless the school elects to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

Meal benefit forms (MBFs) will be sent home with a letter to families. To apply for free or reduced-price meals, households should fill out the MBF for their household and return it to the school.  The information provided on the MBF will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by program officials. Information on the MBF may not be used for any other purpose unless consent is granted by parent/guardian.

For program officials to determine eligibility, households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and/or Delaware Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (DE-TANF) must list the child’s name, the SNAP and/or DE-TANF case number, and provide a signature and name of an adult household member.  Households not receiving SNAP and/or DE-TANF must list: names of all household members; the amount of the gross income for each household member received last month; the income source and how often received; the signature of an adult household member; and that adult’s last four digits of social security number, or the word “none” or “No Social Security Number” box marked if the adult does not have a social security number.  MBFs may be submitted at any time during the school year.

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price policy, the school nutrition services supervisor will review MBFs and determine eligibility. Families dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis. Families wishing to make a formal appeal may make a request either orally or in writing to the administrative office for a hearing on the decision.

 Children who are enrolled in Head Start or who are homeless, migrant, runaway, or in foster care are eligible for free school meal benefits. In certain instances, children receiving WIC may also be eligible. Families wishing to apply should follow the instructions on the MBF or contact their school for more information.

Households may report changes or reapply for meal benefits anytime during the school year. The information provided by the household is confidential and will be used only for purposes of determining eligibility and verifying data.

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/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:

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.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

(DOVER, Del. — April 3, 2023) — On Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the Archaeological Society of Delaware, will present the 2023 Delaware Archaeology and History Symposium which will highlight archaeological investigations and historical research for the state of Delaware and the surrounding region.

Presentations will include, among others, “Earthenware and Stoneware Production in the First State”; “Identity, Spirituality, and Community at the John Dickinson Plantation Based on the Collection From Block III”; “The ‘63-Year-Old’ Search for the Elusive Corbit Tannery in Odessa, DE”; and “American Indian Ceramics of Delaware.” Go to the following for a complete list of symposium sessions: https://history.delaware.gov/2023/03/10/archaeology-symposium-2023/.

The symposium will take place at The Old State House, located at 25 The Green in Dover, Delaware. Admission is free and open to the public. For additional information about the symposium, contact coordinator Luke Pickrahn at Luke.Pickrahn@delaware.gov or 302-736-7437. For Old State House information, call 302-744-5054 or mailto:OSHmuseum@delaware.gov.

The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is an agency of the State of Delaware. The division enhances Delaware’s quality of life by preserving the state’s unique historical heritage, fostering community stability and economic vitality and providing educational programs and assistance to the public on Delaware history. The division’s diverse array of services includes operation of five museums, administration of the State Historic Preservation Office, conservation of the State’s archaeological and historic-objects collections, operation of a conference center and management of historic properties across the state. Primary funding for division programs and services is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, a federal agency. However, the contents and opinions expressed in the division’s programs and services do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Department of the Interior.

Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-577-5170
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov

The Delaware Department of Education announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture policy for free and reduced-price meals for children unable to pay the full price for meals served under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and After School Snack Program (ASSP). Each participating school and its administrative office have a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.

In School Year 2022-2023, schools will be returning to normal NSLP, SBP and ASSP operations and will be collecting free or reduced-price meal eligibility applications, unless the school elects to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

Meal Benefit Forms (MBFs) will be sent home with a letter to parents or guardians. To apply for free or reduced-price meals, households should fill out the MBF for their household and return it to the school.  The information provided on the MBF will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by program officials. Information on the MBF may not be used for any other purpose unless consent is granted by parent/guardian.

For program officials to determine eligibility, households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and/or Delaware Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (DE-TANF) must list the child’s name, their SNAP and/or DE-TANF case number, and provide a signature and name of an adult household member.  Households not receiving SNAP and/or DE-TANF must list: names of all household members; the amount of the gross income for each household member received last month; the income source and how often received; the signature of an adult household member; and that adult’s last four digits of social security number, or the word “none” or “No Social Security Number” box marked if the adult does not have a social security number.  MBFs may be submitted at any time during the school year.

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price policy, the school nutrition services supervisor will review MBFs and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis. Parents or guardians wishing to make a formal appeal may make a request either orally or in writing to the administrative office for a hearing on the decision.

Children who are enrolled in Head Start, or are homeless, migrant, runaway or in foster care are eligible for free school meal benefits. In certain instances, children receiving WIC may also be eligible. Parents or guardians wishing to apply should follow the instructions on the MBF or contact their school for more information.

Households may report changes or reapply for meal benefits anytime during the school year. The information provided by the household is confidential and will be used only for purposes of determining eligibility and verifying data.

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.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Effective Date:  July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

(DOVER, Del. — June 2, 2022) — Children ages 10 to 13 are invited to explore the storied past of one of America’s most historic towns during the FREE New Castle History Camp that will take place from July 25 to 29, 2022 in New Castle, Delaware. Among a host of topics, participants will discover how Native Americans used the land, explore colonial kitchen gardens and weigh in as jurors in the momentous Thomas Garrett trial. At the end of each day, campers will test their skills as historians by researching and designing a creative group project that will be presented to friends and family at the end of the week at the New Castle Public Library.

Registered campers must be dropped off no earlier than 8:30 a.m. at the New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., and picked up no later than 12:30 p.m. from the New Castle Public Library, 424 Delaware St. In addition to sessions at those locations, camp activities will be hosted and conducted by several of the town’s most prestigious history organizations including the First State National Historical Park, New Castle Historical Society and the Delaware Historical Society’s Read House and Gardens.

Open to children ages 10–13, the New Castle History Camp is free but limited to the first 25 participants on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration closes June 30, 2022 at midnight or when there are no longer any openings, whichever happens first.

For detailed information on the New Castle History Camp, go to https://history.delaware.gov/new-castle-history-camp/. For registration and questions, contact New Castle Court House Museum Lead Interpreter Juliette Wurm at mailto:Juliette.Wurm@delaware.gov or 302-323-4453.

The New Castle Court House Museum is administered by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, an agency of the State of Delaware. The division enhances Delaware’s quality of life by preserving the state’s unique historical heritage, fostering community stability and economic vitality and providing educational programs and assistance to the general public on Delaware history. The division’s diverse array of services includes operation of five museums which are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, administration of the State Historic Preservation Office, conservation of the state’s archaeological and historic-objects collections, operation of a conference center and management of historic properties across the state. Primary funding for division programs and services is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, a federal agency. However, the contents and opinions expressed in the division’s programs and services do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Department of the Interior.

-End-

Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-577-5170
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov

Delaware K-12 schools will have the option to continue offering free nutritious school meals during the 2021-2022 school year, the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) announced today.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) released a group of waivers and eligibility guidelines allowing schools to offer meals without determining eligibility based on the student’s household income.

Participating schools can operate under the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) and will receive a higher federal reimbursement rate per meal.

Schools that elect not to serve free meals through the SSO will determine eligibility for free and reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) using federal income guidelines. The annually updated income eligibility guidelines for the 2021-22 school year have been released by the USDA.

The new eligibility guidelines went into effect July 1, 2021 and allow schools and other institutions and facilities to determine eligibility for the NSLP, the School Breakfast Program, the Special Milk Program for Children, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Summer Food Service Program, and the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer.

To apply, households already receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) need only include the SNAP or TANF case number on their application if not notified of their automatic eligibility by the school. Households enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals and should complete a Household Meal Benefit Application. Households should contact the school nutrition program of the district or school where their child(ren) attends school for further information.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter 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;

(2)     fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3)     email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006