Free or Reduced Meal Application Tracking (FORMAT) Software

Designed to track free and reduced meals, FORMAT provides a quick and easy way of processing, printing and verifying applications for free and reduced meals, including processing single or multi-family applications. With the changing and complex USDA rules and regulations, it is important to have a powerful yet flexible free and reduced system. Fully integrated with the QSP point-of-sale, this software program allows applications to be entered from the central office or individual school sites.

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QSP

FORMAT

Resources

Easy to Install and Use

Access to FORMAT can be made through any internet browser, and Region 1 will provide the hosting environment for you. FORMAT runs similar to most websites with pull-down menus and links to each feature. Security access can be set up in FORMAT to allow display only, data entry, or full feature access, depending upon the user class assigned.

Family Members are Linked

Siblings are linked together within FORMAT and when the statistics of a family change (income, size, etc.), FORMAT updates the records of each child in the family automatically. The “Family Snapshot” located within the record shows a list of both family members (those with income) and related students. Data stored for each person is easily accessed with a simple click on the name within the list. Student history is also kept within each record.

Approves, Temporarily Approves, Denies Applications and Assigns Status

FORMAT automatically searches criteria of applications and determines whether a child is to receive free or reduced meal status or is denied based on Federal criteria. A "Temporary Eligible Status" can be applied if applications are incomplete. This will allow the student to receive free or reduced lunch for a specified period of time.

Makes Reporting and Letter Generation Simple

FORMAT provides the ability to sort data and generate reports based on a variety of parameters. Using a simple pull-down menu, letters can be easily generated in FORMAT by creating a merge file from your data selection, and conducting a mail-merge using MS Word. FORMAT will create batch letters...even in other languages! Labels can also be created, and any report can be viewed on the screen before printing.

Verification Sampling the Easy Way

FORMAT provides you with the ability to automatically pull a sampling of applications for verification. A report is generated and printed along with verification notice letters

Preparing for Next Year

Forget about wasting time each year re-keying all the student information for the next school year. Students can be promoted to the next grade, moved to different schools, or deactivated easily within FORMAT. FORMAT makes it easy to prepare for next year!