Swallows Charter Academy
Food Service
SCA Food Services
Dear Parent/Guardian:
As we welcome you to the new school year, Swallows Charter Academy, as of right now, will be providing no cost breakfast and lunch for all students.. However, we want to inform you of two measures that will be listed in November's ballot this year regarding the Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) program.
The HSMA program was voter-approved in 2022 through Proposition FF to provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students in Colorado. The program has had greater success than what the state originally budgeted for. As such, there is a funding shortfall that the State would like to address through two separate ballot measures.
One measure addresses the retention of the excess funds that were collected from those making over $300,000 annually in Colorado. If the measure is voted for, approximately $12 million will be returned to the Healthy School Meals for All fund. If the measure is voted against, those funds would be returned to those making over $300,000 per year and reduce the total funding for the program. (This is a result of the State not projecting or budgeting enough revenue compared to what was actually received.)
The other measure seeks to provide additional funding by lowering the deduction limits for those making over $300,000 annually in Colorado. If the measure is voted for, an additional $95 million will be allocated annually towards the Healthy School Meals for All program, which will allow SCA (and other school districts) to continue feeding students for free. If the measure is voted against, the program will be drastically reduced and will most likely cease to exist for our school, meaning most of the families in our district will have to pay for their student’s meals. (This is a result of the state not projecting enough expenditures to sustain the program, causing a revenue shortfall.) We felt that it was important to notify our families of the upcoming November ballot measures and provide some explanation for what each of measures mean. More information can be found by researching Colorado HB25-1274.
It is even more important now than ever for households to provide income information when requested. Gathering this information allows Swallows Charter Academy to receive state and federal funding we qualify for. These funds go directly to schools to help cover the cost of meals and support after-school activities and other nutritional programs for students. Plus, qualifying households may be eligible to receive Summer EBT benefits, receive discounted school fees, class materials, bus passes, utilities support and more. Please click here to be redirected to fill out the FEDS form.
Research shows students perform better in school when they are not hungry. By providing breakfast and lunch to all children at no cost, we better support their learning.
Our school meals follow the U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for healthy school meals. When families choose no-cost school meals, our school gets more funding and our school community can connect over mealtimes. It also saves time and money, which your family can use on what’s most important.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact us at 719-547-1627.
Sincerely,
Mr. Jonathon Graves
Director of Food Services
Non-discrimination Statement:
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. 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. The letter 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:
1. Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. Fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. Email:
program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. 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/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter 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