State Superintendent Reminds Virginia Families of Availability of Free Summer Meals
RICHMOND — Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow is reminding Virginia families of the availability of free nutritious meals this summer through two summer meals programs.
The Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option operate at schools, public housing centers, community centers, playgrounds, camps, parks, and houses of worship. Last summer, meals were served under the two programs at approximately 1,000 locations in the Commonwealth.
“Thousands of Virginia students rely on nutritious free or reduced-priced meals during the school year. The Summer Food Service Program ensures that students receive proper nutrition for their developing minds and bodies, even when they aren’t in school,” Balow said. "I am appreciative of all our summer meals sponsors and partners who work to help reduce food insecurity when school is not in session."
Children ages 18 and under may receive nutritious meals at participating locations with no proof of identity required. Children receiving Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) food benefits are also eligible to access nutritious summer meals at Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option sites.
Families may use the online USDA Meals for Kids Site Finder to find nearby summer meals program locations. Parents and others may also text “food” or “comida” to 304-304 to receive a list of nearby feeding centers.
The summer meals programs, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, allow organizations to combine feeding programs with other activities in communities where at least 50 percent of children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and United States 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. Letters 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:
-
Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
-
Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
-
Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
 |
|
In-Person Training on Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities
Join us for a live, in-person training event, Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities.
This training event is for families of students with disabilities and will be held:
Friday, August 12, 2022
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Sheraton Richmond Airport Hotel
5501 Eubank Road, Sandston, Virginia 23150
Registration will be limited to 100 participants, so please register early! The training will be provided by Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) staff members.
A limited number of hotel rooms will be available at no charge to participants who live more than fifty miles from the training location. If your circumstances change and you are unable to attend this event, please notify Chiquita Seaborne at Chiquita.Seaborne@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 225-3898 to cancel your registration and lodging.
Childcare is not provided for this training.
The purpose of this training is to assist you in understanding the following four things:
- What are some of the keys to your child's academic success?
- What decisions will you need to make regarding your child's educational path?
- At what point will you be making these decisions? In this training, we refer to these as critical decision points.
- What information will you need so that you can make the most well-informed decisions possible for your child?
We look forward to seeing you there!
|
 |
|
2021-2022 Survey for Parents of Students Participating in the Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP)
The purpose of the 2022-2022 VAAP Parent Survey is to gain feedback from Virginia parents on the 2021-2022 VAAP. Please complete this survey based on your experience with the VAAP assessment. Your feedback will assist the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) with future VAAP implementation. Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback.
|
 |
|
Family Members on Teams Video & Factsheet
This nine-minute Family Members on Teams video was produced by Formed Families Forward, as the family partner to the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS) project.
The video features a staged meeting and interviews with family members and educators sharing practical suggestions for including family members on decision-making teams. The accompanying factsheet overviews the strategies shared in the video.
Please complete this Family Members on Teams survey to let us know what you think of the video!
|
|
