MONROE - Several area school districts experienced considerable increases in the number of students receiving free or reduced prices for school lunches in 2010, according to a recent report from the state Department of Public Instruction.
In the Brodhead school district 32.6 percent of students were registered for meal assistance, which is up from 21.5 percent in 2009, the report showed. Brodhead saw the largest increase in students receiving assistance, but Black Hawk schools continued to have the highest percentage. In 2009, 29.7 percent of students were receiving free or reduced price lunches, and in 2010 that number jumped to 38.4 percent.
In total, 10 area schools experienced increases in the number of students receiving meal payment assistance.
Brodhead Superintendent Charles Deery and Monticello Superintendent Karen Ballin said the economy is most likely the reason the numbers have increased.
"I think there are more people out there who qualify (for free or reduced lunches)," Ballin said.
Ballin said families can sign up for free or reduced lunches anytime during the school year. It isn't something families have to sign up for at the beginning of a new semester.
Ballin encouraged families to sign up for free or reduced lunches.
"This is a wonderful resource for families," she said.
Deery said all information about the lunch programs is confidential. There are a couple of people in the district office who know who receive the lunches, but the information isn't released, Deery said.
Students who receive free or reduced lunches put in a four-digit number in the lunch line for their lunch, just as students who pay for lunches.
"They aren't identified in any way," Deery said.
Monroe School District Business Administrator Ron Olson said the lunch program benefits children, which is the most important reason for parents to apply.
It also benefits school districts, he said.
The amount of money schools receive for the Title 1 program is based on the number of students who are eligible for free or reduced lunches, he said. The money from Title 1 helps pay for math and reading programs.
Monroe received about $280,000 for its Title 1 program last year, Olson said.
Qualifications for free or reduced lunches available on the DPI Web site, www.dpi.wi.gov. A family of three must earn less than $33,874 to receive free or reduced lunches, while a family of four must earn less than $40,793 a year. The financial requirements include families of up to eight people.
Listed below are school districts and the percentage of students that received free or reduced price lunches in the 2009-10 school year compared with the 2008-09 school year.
• Albany, 23.8, 19.6
• Argyle, 27.5, 20
• Black Hawk, 38.4, 29.7
• Brodhead, 32.6, 21.5
• Darlington, 25.9, 21.2
• Juda, 31.7, 26.3
• Monroe, 29.9, 27.3
• Monticello, 23.6, 20.8
• New Glarus, 18.6, 14
• Pecatonica, 30.3, 27.9
For more information about the free or reduced lunch program, people should contact local school districts, or go to the DPI Web site, www.dpi.wi.gov.
In the Brodhead school district 32.6 percent of students were registered for meal assistance, which is up from 21.5 percent in 2009, the report showed. Brodhead saw the largest increase in students receiving assistance, but Black Hawk schools continued to have the highest percentage. In 2009, 29.7 percent of students were receiving free or reduced price lunches, and in 2010 that number jumped to 38.4 percent.
In total, 10 area schools experienced increases in the number of students receiving meal payment assistance.
Brodhead Superintendent Charles Deery and Monticello Superintendent Karen Ballin said the economy is most likely the reason the numbers have increased.
"I think there are more people out there who qualify (for free or reduced lunches)," Ballin said.
Ballin said families can sign up for free or reduced lunches anytime during the school year. It isn't something families have to sign up for at the beginning of a new semester.
Ballin encouraged families to sign up for free or reduced lunches.
"This is a wonderful resource for families," she said.
Deery said all information about the lunch programs is confidential. There are a couple of people in the district office who know who receive the lunches, but the information isn't released, Deery said.
Students who receive free or reduced lunches put in a four-digit number in the lunch line for their lunch, just as students who pay for lunches.
"They aren't identified in any way," Deery said.
Monroe School District Business Administrator Ron Olson said the lunch program benefits children, which is the most important reason for parents to apply.
It also benefits school districts, he said.
The amount of money schools receive for the Title 1 program is based on the number of students who are eligible for free or reduced lunches, he said. The money from Title 1 helps pay for math and reading programs.
Monroe received about $280,000 for its Title 1 program last year, Olson said.
Qualifications for free or reduced lunches available on the DPI Web site, www.dpi.wi.gov. A family of three must earn less than $33,874 to receive free or reduced lunches, while a family of four must earn less than $40,793 a year. The financial requirements include families of up to eight people.
Listed below are school districts and the percentage of students that received free or reduced price lunches in the 2009-10 school year compared with the 2008-09 school year.
• Albany, 23.8, 19.6
• Argyle, 27.5, 20
• Black Hawk, 38.4, 29.7
• Brodhead, 32.6, 21.5
• Darlington, 25.9, 21.2
• Juda, 31.7, 26.3
• Monroe, 29.9, 27.3
• Monticello, 23.6, 20.8
• New Glarus, 18.6, 14
• Pecatonica, 30.3, 27.9
For more information about the free or reduced lunch program, people should contact local school districts, or go to the DPI Web site, www.dpi.wi.gov.