Hello everyone,

At the start of each school year parents and guardians are asked to complete several forms as part of the registration packet.  One of the forms was the Free and Reduced Meals Application.  Completion of this form has always been crucial because the information gathered is used to determine whether your child is eligible for free or reduced priced meals at school.  This year, because all students are free many of our parents saw no reason to fill out this application, certainly understandable from your perspective. However unbeknown to you, these applications were also used to determine what federal funds the school will receive in order to support important programs such as our Title I reading and math programs, offering counseling services to students through Title V funds, and providing professional development for our staff through Title II funds. Because of this, the state has developed a different form, called the Economic Status Form which once filled out will determine the amount of funding the schools will get for academic resources, as noted above. Completing this form is one way you as a parent or guardian can invest in your student’s education.  

To help families, who have not yet completed this form, get that information to us before the Maine Department of Education’s deadline for submissions, members of our school staff will be reaching out to you via phone.  With your verbal authorization, we will complete the form with you over the phone by asking 3-4 short questions.  Any information obtained will remain confidential and you will not be required to provide your exact income but rather where your family income would fall within different ranges.  If you have already completed this form then you are all set and should not be receiving a phone call from one of our offices.

We greatly appreciate you taking the time to work with us to get this information submitted to the state so that we can continue to provide critical academic support for all Waterville students.