By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson USD 308 said in a Facebook post Wednesday it needs all families to complete the free and reduced food service application in order to create opportunities for the district to receive more funds.
"For people on free meals, we waive textbook fees," said spokesperson Ray Hemman. "For people on reduced meals, we cut that in about half. That's the biggest thing people see from year to year."
Depending on your income, this application also qualifies your student for other services.
"If, for example, we're able to offer later this year internet access that reaches some of our families, that will be based on the free and reduced application that's turned in now," Hemman said.
This could help for certain specific grant programs, too.
"If the district has a higher percent who fill it out, even if they're not eligible, there are some grants that look at that positively," Hemman said. "It helps the district maybe in some ways that we don't even know about."
Free and reduced lunch numbers are also used as a proxy for at-risk funding in the state's school finance formula.