(1) Washington
students may apply who are:
(a) Enrolled in
the seventh or eighth grade, or in ninth grade (under limited circumstances
defined in
RCW
28B.118.010), in a public school, private
school as approved by chapter 28A.195 RCW or home school as defined by chapter
28A.200 RCW; and
(b) Meet the
income eligibility as defined in subsection (2) of this section.
A student in the ninth grade is eligible to sign up for the
program, if that student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunches and was
previously ineligible during the seventh or eighth grade while a student in
Washington.
(2)
Seventh, eighth, or ninth (if previously ineligible as defined above) grade
students are eligible to apply if one of these requirements are met:
(a) Family income falls within the monthly or
annual standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for
eligibility for participation in the free or reduced price lunch program
(FRPL); or
(b)
The student's family receives temporary assistance for needy
families (TANF) benefits; or
(c) Student is a foster youth.
To determine eligibility in unusual circumstances, or for
assistance in defining household size, foster youth status, and other criteria,
the office will consult with district or school staff who oversee FRPL, other
agencies as needed, students and families as needed, and will refer to the USDA
FRPL guidelines.
If a student qualifies in the application year, the information
is not required to be updated throughout the middle and high school years.
However, income will be verified using the information from the FAFSA or an
alternative application provided by the office upon college enrollment. See WAC
250-84-060,
eligibility for receipt of scholarship.
(3) Eligible applications are considered
complete when:
(a) The signed pledge and
signature page has been received by the office by the deadline, as determined
by the office.
(i) Students who are dependents
and meet requirements outlined in
RCW
28B.118.010 are automatically enrolled in
partnership with the department of children, youth, and families.
(ii) The deadline for the initial application
is June 30th of the student's eighth grade year, and students who qualify to
apply in the ninth grade year have until June 30th of their ninth grade year to
begin an application. Students have until August 31st at the end of their
eighth grade or ninth grade, for those eligible to apply during ninth grade, to
complete their application.
(iii)
Exceptions to the deadline will be made on a case-by-case basis by the
office.
(iv) A special exception to
the deadlines in (a)(ii) of this subsection is made for students required to
sign a pledge to establish eligibility during eighth or ninth grade in the
2019-20 school year, during which a statewide school closure was ordered under
the state of emergency declared in response to the coronavirus pandemic. For
these students only, the deadline to begin an application will be extended
until November 30, 2020, and students have until that date to complete their
application.
(b) All
sections of the application including eligibility are filled and the pledge is
signed.
(c) The pledge must include
the following criteria:
(i) Graduate from high
school with at least a C average or as referenced in
RCW
28B.118.010.
(ii) No felony convictions.
(d) The section of the application
that indicates eligibility must be completed.
(e) The pledge must be signed by a parent or
legal guardian to attest the information is true and accurate.
The office shall establish a process through which the office
may work with a school counselor or administrator to witness a student's pledge
if the parent or guardian's signature is not obtained after multiple,
documented unsuccessful attempts. These attempts will be documented in the
student's file.
Notes
Wash.
Admin. Code §
250-84-030
Amended by
WSR
20-12-051, Filed 5/29/2020, effective
6/29/2020
Statutory Authority:
RCW
28B.76.670. 10-17-080, §
250-84-030, filed 8/16/10,
effective 9/16/10.