UNPAID SCHOOL MEAL POLICIES

USDA requires school districts to have a policy for collecting school meal fees and on how to handle situations when a student who is not certified to receive free school meals  arrives in the cafeteria without cash in hand or in his or her school meals account. A recent survey of 40 of the 50 largest school districts in the country found:

• Only 12 of the 40 school districts have a single unpaid meal policy for all students. Most have two policies: one for younger students (generally elementary schools) and one for older students (generally middle and high schools). Policies typically are more generous for elementary school students, allowing them to receive school meals, regardless of their ability to pay, or permitting them to charge additional meals on their school meals accounts.
• 13 of the 40 districts provide meals to all students for all meals, regardless of whether they can pay; 10 do not provide any meals or grace period to secondary students who cannot pay; 17 districts place a maximum number of meals they will provide to either secondary school students or to all students with debt.

Source: Food Research & Action Council, 9/17, Unpaid School Meals