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      Updated 2022-2023 USDA Non-Discrimination Statement and formatting requirements

      The USDA has updated it's required Non-Discrimination Statement for the 2022-2023 school year. This statement must be updated on all Free and Reduced related letters.

      There are specific formatting guidelines that are required by the USDA when placing this this statement on your letters. The guidelines are:

       

      1. The new nondiscrimination statement may not be altered in any way including the formatting and spacing.
      2. The text must be easily readable in Time New Roman font or other standard font (black or dark color)
      3. The ideal font size of the full statement is 11
      4. A font size as small as 9 point may be used
      5. If the document is a one page document, the font size must be the same as the rest of the font used to maintain equal importance.
      6. If the full statement does not fit, use the abbreviated "equal opportunity" The abbreviated statement font must be the same size as the font size used in the document.

      __________________________________________________________________________

      USDA Nondiscrimination 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-l l-28-l 7Fax2Mail.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.