Policy 734 - School Meals Policy

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that students receive healthy and nutritious meals through the school district’s nutrition program and that school district employees, families, and students have a shared understanding of expectations regarding meal charges. The policy seeks to allow students to receive the nutrition they need to stay focused during the school day and minimize identification of students with insufficient funds to pay for a la carte items or second entrees and meals as well as to maintain the financial integrity of the school nutrition program. 

The Superintendent or designee is directed to formulate regulations to address the following:

1. Negative student meal accounts 
2. Collection of delinquent debt 
3. Treatment of debts considered to be uncollectible 

A. This policy and any pertinent supporting information shall be provided in writing (i.e., mail, email, back-to-school packet, student handbook, etc.) to: 

1. all households at or before the start of each school year; 
2. students and families who transfer into the school district, at the time of enrollment; and 
3. all school district personnel who are responsible for enforcing this policy. 

B. The school district may post the policy on the school district’s website, in addition to providing the required written notification described above. 

• Stat. § 123B.37 (Prohibited Fees) 
• Minn. Stat. § 124D.111 (School Meals Policies; Lunch Aid; Food Service Accounting) 
• 42 U.S.C. § 1751 et seq. (Healthy and Hunger-Free Kids Act) 
• 7 C.F.R. § 210 et seq. (School Lunch Program Regulations) 
• 7 C.F.R. § 220.8 (School Breakfast Program Regulations) 
• USDA Policy Memorandum SP 46-2016, Unpaid Meal Charges: Local Meal Charge Policies (2016) 
• USDA Policy Memorandum SP 47-2016, Unpaid Meal Charges: Clarification on Collection of Delinquent Meal Payments (2016) 
• USDA Policy Memorandum SP 23-2017, Unpaid Meal Charges: Guidance and Q&A 

• Adopted: June 14, 2021 
• Amended: August 14, 2023 
• Last Reviewed: August 14, 2023 

• Policy 734-R School Meals Policy Regulations