All Pennsylvania public schools are required to participate this year in a “modernized” free and reduced lunch program, which works in conjunction with other state social services. The lunch program is part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services .
Private schools will be required to use COMPASS, which was piloted at Hempfield and McCaskey School Districts last year, for free and reduced lunches the following year.
As of July 1, COMPASS allows adult residents to go online at www.compass.state.pa.us to apply for free or reduced lunches for the children who are dependent on their income.
Residents can fill out an application, which immediately determines what social services they qualify for. Services such as Medicaid, food stamps, cash assistance, long-term care and help with home fuel purchases are included.
“We have people in the school system who cannot afford to eat lunch,” said David R. Haines, Solanco School District food service director. “With COMPASS, they know right away if they are approved.”
Those who do not have a computer can apply using computers at most libraries. In addition, school principals and district food service directors can help people with online applications. This year, paper applications also will be sent home with every child.
Haines said 215 Solanco students from 121 families are already signed up for free or reduced lunches through COMPASS. Those who qualify for reduced lunch prices pay 40 cents per meal. The full cost in the Solanco School District is $1.60 at the elementary level; $1.75 at the middle schools; and $1.90 at the high school.
Haines sees several advantages to the COMPASS program. One is that an eligibility determination is made immediately. There is much less paperwork for the school district and the program will allow for “better bookkeeping.”
He also cited increased privacy. Haines said the students don’t have to worry about their friends seeing them turn in paper applications.
“We are all equals (in this system). I am not allowed to send a list to a principal. This is strictly confidential,” he said
Haines said the amount of paperwork will be cut drastically. He said he spent as much as 60 to 70 hours just qualifying free and reduced lunch applicants.
“It’s overwhelming to see all the applications come in,” said Haines who sees COMPASS as a means of cutting at least 10 hours off the total.
If a family’s financial status changes throughout the school year, they may apply at any time for assistance with COMPASS services.
Haines said most school districts use a “point-of-sale” tracking system in their food services program. The point-of-sale system allows for increased privacy because no one other than the person at the cash register will have any indication a student is enrolled in the free or reduced lunch program.
Solanco School District is one of the last districts to implement a point-of-sale system. He said it was tried at the end of the last school year at Bart-Colerain Elementary School. It will be implemented at Quarryville Elementary School at the start of the upcoming school year and another school will be added every 30 days until the whole district is in the program.
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