Vermont Business Magazine School is starting back up for Vermont students and the Agency of Education (AOE) is encouraging all families with school-aged children to “Fill the Form.” By returning the Household Income Form, or School Meals Application to their child's school, families can help secure important funding that benefits Vermont students and schools.
The data collected by school districts and reported to the Agency is used to draw down the maximum federal funding for the state’s Universal Meals program. This not only reduces the program’s cost to taxpayers, but also helps to secure and equitably distribute tens of millions of dollars in other federal funding to Vermont schools for a broad range of education programs.
“The information collected through these forms is a critical part of how we guarantee a 21st-century education system,” said Interim Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders. “Family income data is used by nearly every federal education program to provide the funding that Vermont school districts rely on. That is why we’re asking all families to do their part by returning the form requested by their child’s school.”
Beyond supporting Universal Meals, the data helps schools qualify for other funding such as “Title” programs, afterschool and summer programs, broadband access, special education, and more. The information also supports the Agency in federal reporting requirements for student performance and helps determine how much funding schools receive from the state's education funding formula.
The Agency is providing training and support materials to school district staff. Schools have additional resources available to guide families in accessing and completing the form. Families are encouraged to reach out directly to their schools with any questions. The Household Income Form is available in multiple languages and can be filled out online or by hand. The information families provide is confidential, and the data are securely collected and stored to protect student and family privacy.
About the Vermont Agency of Education
The Agency of Education implements state and federal laws, policies, and regulations to ensure all Vermont learners have equitable access to high-quality learning opportunities. The Agency accomplishes this mission through the provision of its leadership, support, and oversight of Vermont’s public education system.
Connect with the Vermont Agency of Education on the Web.
USDA 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:
- 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:
[email protected]
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