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Book Policy Manual
Section 3000 - Business & Non-Instructional Operations
Title Food Service Charging Policy
Code 3542.4
Status First Reading
Adopted June 14, 2011
Last Revised November 14, 2017
FOOD SERVICE CHARGING POLICY
The Board of Education has an agreement with the Connecticut State Department of Education to participate in the school-based
Child Nutrition Program. The Board accepts full responsibility for adhering to the federal and state guidelines and regulations
pertaining thereto. Program meals are planned to meet the specified nutrient standards for children as specified by the United
States Department of Agriculture in accordance with their age or grade group.
Although not required by law, but due to its participation in the Child Nutrition Program, the Board approves the establishment of a
system to permit students to charge a meal in certain situations.
The Board realizes that funds from the non-profit School Food Service Account, according to federal regulations, cannot be used to
cover the cost of charged meals that have not been paid.
Federal funds are intended to subsidize the meals of children, and these funds may not be used to subsidize meals for teachers,
staff or visitors. Therefore, adults are not permitted to charge meals.
Families are able to pre-pay for meals to help ensure children have consistent access to healthy meals.
Charging is not encouraged by the Board, but on those occasions that a student does not have lunch money, s/he will be permitted
to charge a reimbursable meal or be offered an alternate meal. An alternate meal is any meal that differs from the day’s advertised,
reimbursable meal. An alternate meal is a cheese sandwich and milk
MEAL CHARGING POLICY
The Colchester Board of Education (the “Board”) recognizes the importance of providing nutritious food to
students in the Colchester Public Schools (the “District”).
The Board is a sponsor of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services’
Child Nutrition Programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast
Program (SBP), and the District shall adhere to the federal and state guidelines and regulations pertaining to these
school Child Nutrition Programs. In accordance with federal law, the Board will make a public announcement and
notify parents and guardians of the eligibility criteria for free and reduced price meals and provide information
regarding how a household may make an application for these benefits. Such notice and application will generally
be distributed at the beginning of each school year.
Charging Meals
The District uses an automated prepayment system for student meal accounts. Students whose accounts have
insufficient funds, and who do not bring a meal or other funds to school to pay for meals, may charge meals to
their meal accounts. Students will be informed of their right to purchase a meal, which excludes a la carte items,
for any school breakfast, lunch or other meal offered by the District, even if the student’s account has insufficient
funds.
The Board prohibits publicly identifying or shaming a student for any unpaid meal charges, including, but not
limited to, the following:
Delaying or refusing to serve a meal to such student;
Designating a specific meal option for the student; or
Collection of Unpaid Meal Charges
The District’s efforts to recover from households money owed due to the charging of meals must not have a
negative impact on the children involved and shall focus primarily on the adults in the household responsible for
providing funds for meal purchases. The District shall consider whether the benefits of potential collections
outweigh the costs that would be incurred to achieve those collections.
The District will contact the parents/guardians of students who charge meals to their meal accounts in order for the
District to collect the delinquent debt. The first such communication will be a written communication, by mail or e-
mail, and/or a telephone communication after the first meal has been charged. Subsequent written and verbal
communications with parents/guardians concerning delinquent debt will be made by the building administrator or
designee, as may be necessary and appropriate. All communications regarding unpaid meal charges shall be made
directly and discreetly to parents/guardians. Written communications with parents/guardians regarding collection
of a student’s unpaid meal charges shall include information on local food pantries and the Connecticut
Department of Social Services’ supplemental nutrition assistance program, and a link to the District’s or Town’s
website that lists any community services available to Town residents.
In the event a student’s unpaid meal charges are equal to or more than the cost of thirty (30) meals, the
parents/guardians of such student will be referred to the District’s homeless education liaison.
The Board shall comply with applicable federal and state laws and other federal or state requirements concerning
the collection of unpaid meal charges including but not limited to requirements relating to delinquent debt and
“bad debt,” as defined by federal law, and record-keeping relating thereto. The Board may accept gifts, donations
or grants from any public or private sources for the purpose of paying off any unpaid charges for school lunches,
breakfasts or other such feeding.
Dissemination of Policy
This policy shall be provided in writing to all households at the start of each school year and to households
transferring to the District during the school year. This policy shall be provided to all District staff responsible for
its enforcement. In addition, school social workers, nurses, the homeless liaison, and other staff members assisting
children in need or who may be contacted by families with unpaid meal charges shall be informed of this policy.
The District shall maintain, to the extent required by law, documentation of the methods used to communicate this
policy to households and District staff responsible for policy enforcement.
The District shall provide this policy to the Connecticut State Department of Education during Administrative
Reviews.
The Superintendent or designee may, if necessary and appropriate, develop administrative regulations in
furtherance of this policy.
Legal Conn. Gen. Stat. §10-215. Lunches, breakfasts and other feeding programs for public school
children and employees. Collection of unpaid charges. Acceptance of gifts, donations or grants.
State of Connecticut, Department of Education, School Health, Nutrition and Family Services
Operational Memorandum No. 11-22, “Connecticut Statutory Requirements for Unpaid Meal
Charges in Public Schools,” June 15, 2022.
State of Connecticut, Department of Education, Bureau of Health/Nutrition, Family Services and
Adult Education Operational Memorandum No. 4-17, “Guidance on Unpaid Meal Charges and
Collection of Delinquent Meal Payments,” Nov. 2, 2016.
7 C.F.R. Part 210 National School Lunch Program.
7 C.F.R. Part 220 School Breakfast Program.
7 C.F.R. Part 245 Determining Eligibility for Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk in
Schools.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Policy Memo SP 46-2016, “Unpaid
Meal Charges: Local Meal Charge Policy,” July 8, 2016.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Policy Memo SP 47-2016, “Unpaid
Meal Charges: Clarification on Collection of Delinquent Meal Payments,” July 8, 2016.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Policy Memo SP 23-2017, “Unpaid
Meal Charges: Guidance and Q&A,” March 23, 2017.