--- ## author: Kilian, Jessica date: D:20260414183600Z --- 534-1 ## 534SCHOOL MEALS POLICY [Note: In 2021, the Minnesota legislature amended Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.111, to require that Minnesota school districts that participate in the national school lunch program adopt a school meals policy. In 2023, the Minnesota legislature amended the statute to create the free school meals program]. [Note: This MSBA/MASA model policy is drafted to be consistent for all grade levels. However, local school districts may vary the meal charge policy for elementary, middle, and high schools.] [Note: School districts must follow appropriate debt collection practices when attempting to recover unpaid a la carte items or second meal charges.] ## I.PURPOSE 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 of the school district is to provide meals to students in a respectful manner and to maintain the dignity of students by prohibiting lunch shaming or otherwise ostracizing the student. 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 school meals as well as to maintain the financial integrity of the school nutrition program. ## II.PAYMENT OF MEALS A.Students have use of a meal account. When the balance reaches zero, a student may charge no more than $25.00 to this account. When an account reaches this limit, a student shall not be allowed to charge second meals or a la carte items until the negative account balance is paid. Families may add money to students’ accounts by electronic payment, pay at the school office, or pay cashier. If the school district participates in the United States Department of Agriculture National School Lunch program and has an Identified Student Percentage below the federal percentage determined for all meals to be reimbursed at the free rate via the Community Eligibility Provision must participate in the free school meals program. ## B.Free School Meals Program 1. The free school meals program is created within the Minnesota ## Department of Education 2. Each school that participates in the United States Department of Agriculture ## National School Lunch program and has an Identified Student Percentage 534-2 at or below the federal percentage determined for all meals to be reimbursed at the free rate must participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision in order to participate in the free school meals program. 3.Each school that participates in the United States Department of ## Agriculture National School Lunch program and has an Identified Student Percentage at or above the federal percentage determined for all meals to be reimbursed at the free rate must participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision in order to participate in the free school meals program. 4.Each school that participates in the free school meals program must: a. participate in the United States Department of Agriculture School ## Breakfast Program and the United States Department of ## Agriculture National School Lunch Program; and b.provide to all students at no cost up to two federally reimbursable meals per school day, with a maximum of one free breakfast and one free lunch. c.serve a reimbursable meal to any student eligible for free or reduced price meals even if that student has an outstanding debt. [NOTE: While subparagraph 3. Above is inherent given subparagraph 2., MSBA recommends that school boards consider including subparagraph 3., which is stated in Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.111.] C.The school district may provide an alternate meal that meets federal and state requirements to a student who does not have sufficient funds in the student’s account or cannot pay cash for a meal. The school district will accommodate special dietary needs with respect to alternate meals. The cost of the alternative meal $0.00 will be charged to the student’s account or otherwise charged to the student. Once a meal has been placed on a student’s tray or served, it will not be taken away by the cashier or any school official, regardless of the students meal account status. All reimbursable meals offered meet state and federal guidelines. We will not provide an alternative meal unless related to a dietary need. D.A student may purchase a second breakfast at the nonprogram price if the student has already selected a reimbursable breakfast. E.A student may purchase a second lunch at the nonprogram price if the student has already selected a reimbursable lunch. 534-3 [NOTE: New paragraphs D and E apply if a school district receives school breakfast aid under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.111 or school lunch aid under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.111 respectively.] ## III.LOW OR NEGATIVE ACCOUNT BALANCES – NOTIFICATION A.The school district will make reasonable efforts to notify families when meal account balances are low or fall below zero. B.Families will be notified of an outstanding negative balance once the negative balance reaches a set family preference. Families will be notified by calling, email, letters sent home. C.Reminders for payment of outstanding student meal balances will not demean or stigmatize any student participating in the school lunch program. ## IV.UNPAID MEAL CHARGES A.The school district will make reasonable efforts to communicate with families to resolve the matter of unpaid charges. Where appropriate, families may be encouraged to apply for free or reduced-price meals for their children. B.The school district will make reasonable efforts to collect unpaid meal charges classified as delinquent debt. Unpaid meal charges are designated as delinquent debt when payment is overdue, the debt is considered collectable, and efforts are being made to collect it. C.The school district may not enlist the assistance of non-school district employees, such as volunteers, to engage in debt collection efforts. D.The school district will not impose any other restriction prohibited under Minnesota Statutes section 123B.37 due to unpaid student meal balances. The school district will not limit a student’s participation in any school activities, graduation ceremonies, field trips, athletics, activity clubs, or other extracurricular activities or access to materials, technology, or other items provided to students due to an unpaid student meal balance. E.Once an unpaid meal account is determined to be uncollectable, the district does not use a collections agency to collect the funds. [NOTE: School districts that use a collection agency to collect unpaid school meals debt must address this in this policy. A new paragraph E can be added to address the use of a collection agency.] ## V.COMMUNICATION OF POLICY 534-4 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 will post this policy on the school district’s website, or the website of the organization where the meal is served, in addition to providing the required written notification described above. ## Legal References:Minn. Stat. § 124D.111, Subd. 4 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 Minn. Op. Atty. Gen. 169j (May 14, 2019) (Letter to Ricker) Policy Adopted: February 2020, revised December 2021, revised September 2023, revised Dec 2025 ## Waconia Public Schools ISD 110 ## Waconia, MN