MONROE - More families in the Monroe school district are qualifying for and receiving free and reduced fee lunches.
"It's going up so much," said Ron Olson, district business manager. Those qualifying for free or reduced lunches range from 33 to 60 percent of families, depending on the building, with the average districtwide percentage falling in the low 40s.
Qualifying for free or reduced meals is based on income and household size. For this school year, a family of four with a household income of $30,615 qualifies for free lunches, while a household income of up to $43,500 would qualify for reduced fee lunch. Lunches cost 40 cents for those qualifying for the reduced rate.
Children who qualify for free or reduced lunches can also receive free breakfasts at the schools.
The number of those receiving free and reduced lunches have been going up over the past eight to 10 years, in part because of the district's effort to encourage families to sign up for the program.
But the past few years have seen even more of an increase, which Olson attributes to economic factors.
"In recent years, it's been driven by the economy," Olson said, either because more people have become eligible or because economic factors have prompted people who qualified but didn't sign up to seek additional help through the program.
More information on free and reduced fee lunches, including qualifying income levels, is available on the district's website, monroeschools.com.
"It's going up so much," said Ron Olson, district business manager. Those qualifying for free or reduced lunches range from 33 to 60 percent of families, depending on the building, with the average districtwide percentage falling in the low 40s.
Qualifying for free or reduced meals is based on income and household size. For this school year, a family of four with a household income of $30,615 qualifies for free lunches, while a household income of up to $43,500 would qualify for reduced fee lunch. Lunches cost 40 cents for those qualifying for the reduced rate.
Children who qualify for free or reduced lunches can also receive free breakfasts at the schools.
The number of those receiving free and reduced lunches have been going up over the past eight to 10 years, in part because of the district's effort to encourage families to sign up for the program.
But the past few years have seen even more of an increase, which Olson attributes to economic factors.
"In recent years, it's been driven by the economy," Olson said, either because more people have become eligible or because economic factors have prompted people who qualified but didn't sign up to seek additional help through the program.
More information on free and reduced fee lunches, including qualifying income levels, is available on the district's website, monroeschools.com.