USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

The Next Step prohibits discrimination based on a student’s race, color, religion, immigration or citizen status, national origin, language spoken, intellectual or athletic ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, sexual orientation, or disability. All the rights, privileges, programs, and activities offered at The Next Step are made available to all students at the school.

National School Lunch Program

The Next Step Public Charter School (TNS) participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP), and the school offers supper to students who attend school in the evening. During the 2024-2025 school year, breakfast, lunch, and supper will be free for all TNS students.

If you would like to receive meals while attending school, we would like students to fill out a FARM application and return it to Monique Mitchell, Chief Operating Officer, mmitchell@nextsteppcs.org. 
Click here for the meal application link. All students attending the day program will be offered breakfast and lunch, and all students attending the evening program will be provided supper at no charge, regardless of the FARM application submission status.

If you would like to mail the completed lunch application, please send it to the following address:

The Next Step Public Charter School
3047 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
Attention: Monique Mitchell

In addition, you can obtain a lunch application from your case manager.
If you have any questions concerning the food program or the lunch applications,
please contact Monique Mitchell: mmitchell@nextsteppcs.org; 240-643-3224

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Also, the District of Columbia Human Rights Act, approved December 13, 1977 DC Law 2-38; DC Official Code §2-1402.11(2006), as amended) states the following: It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice to do any of the following acts, wholly or partially for a discriminatory reason based upon the actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, or political affiliation of any individual. To file a complaint alleging discrimination on one of these bases, please contact the District of Columbia's Office of Human Rights at (202) 727-4559 or ohr@dc.gov.