In Spanish/In EspanolSTUDENT NUTRITION PROGRAM
The District offers a food service program to the students. The charge to students is kept as low as possible to encourage students to participate in the program. The District participates in the National School Lunch Program and offers free and reduced-price meals based on a student’s financial need.
MEAL PRICES AND DEBIT ACCOUNTS: The price of elementary breakfasts is $1.00, lunches are $1.75, and the price of secondary lunches is $2.25-2.50. Milk is available for $0.25 and extra snacks are $0.25 - $0.50. Students may purchase meal tickets or make a deposit into a debit account in the school cafeteria each morning before school. To help us ensure that monies are deposited into the proper account parents should include with the prepayment the student’s ID number. The debit account may be used for both meal and a la carte purchases. However, if a parent wishes to restrict the purchase of a la carte items, they can request that the debit account be used for only meals, this should be communicated to the cafeteria manager at the time the prepayment is made. Any balance remaining on students account will be available for use the following year and balances will transfer with the student if they change schools. If a student moves out of the district or at the end of the year any money remaining on a students account can be refunded. Parents should request a refund in writing from the cafeteria manager. This request will be processed and a check for the remaining balance will be mailed to the requestor. This may take up to 10 business days. At any time if a parent wishes to have a detailed report of the transactions from their students account this can be obtained from the cafeteria manager. Cash will also be accepted for a meal or for a la carte items.
MEAL BENEFITS: Families who cannot pay the full price may apply for a reduced/free price meal. Application forms are given to each student at the beginning of each school year and are available through the school office. Parents should complete only one application per household. The Student Nutrition Department will review all applications. Parents will be notified of the results within ten days of receipt of the application. Notification letters will be mailed to the address on the application so parents should ensure it is accurate. All applications will be handled privately and information will be kept confidential. Students who participate in this program will be treated in the same manner as those who pay the full price.
Parents may return the application to the schools, or Student Nutrition office. Applications can also be mailed to the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, Student Nutrition Office, at 1505 Randolph St., Carrollton, TX 75006. Applications will be processed in the order that they are received. Each student who received benefits last year will receive benefits for a short grace period (less than 20 days) at the beginning of the school year. Parents are encouraged to return applications as soon as possible to prevent the loss of benefits. A new application must be received each school year. If the grace period expires before an application is processed and approved the student will be charged the full price for meal. Families approved for benefits that have any of the following changes a new application must be completed: a $ 50.00 or more increase in a family’s monthly income, a family no longer receives Food Stamps or TANF, or the household size increases/decreases.
STUDENT MEAL OFFERINGS: All menus offered in the cafeteria are planned by a Registered Dietitian and meet the nutritional guidelines set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Agriculture. Click here for School Menus Parents can be assured that students consuming the full meal each day will receive one-fourth of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA’s) at breakfast and one-third of the RDA’s at lunch. School breakfast offerings consist of a choice of milk, a choice of juice/fruit, and a choice of a breakfast item. Students may choose two or three items from the menu. At lunch students may select one of the entrees, two of the side dishes and milk. Student must select an entrée and at least one other item, to receive meal benefits or be charged the student price. Elementary schools will have four entrée choices and four side choices daily. Secondary schools will have 11 entrée choices and nine side choices daily. All schools will offer flavored and unflavored milk as a beverage. Any student taking only one item will be charged the a la carte price for that item.
CHARGING: In the event that a student loses their money or runs out of money on their account we will allow a student to charge. However, student will only be extended $5.50 of credit. Charges will be taken out of any future payments. Student Nutrition is extending this credit with the full intent that all charges will be paid. Once a student reaches the limit of $5.50, no more charging will be allowed and students without money will be given a complimentary vegetable plate consisting of three fruit/vegetable servings and milk. It is our goal for no child to go without a meal; however, we cannot feed children indefinitely without money.
FOODS PROVIDED BY PARENTS AND OTHER FOOD SALES: Nutrition is an important component to a child’s well being and disposition. Parents can send food for the consumption of their student only for breakfast and lunch. We ask that you refrain from sending sodas to school in any lunch. If your child carries a lunch, please pack healthy, well-balanced meals. Limit the amount of candy, if any, that you send as a portion of your child’s lunch. The Texas Public School Nutrition Policy prohibits elementary school campus from making available foods other than the foods provided by the Student Nutrition Department except for one (1) nutritious snack per day under the supervision of the teacher. Snacks may be mid-morning or mid-afternoon but may not be at the same time as the regular meal periods for that class. Snacks must comply with the fat and sugar limits of the Public School Nutrition Policy and can not contain or consist of candy or dessert type items (cookies, cakes, cupcakes, pudding, ice cream or frozen desserts). This policy also prohibits the sale of competitive foods (vending & fundraising food sales) in Middle Schools until after the end of the last lunch period. In High Schools the sale of competitive foods (vending & fundraising food sales are prohibited in the dining areas. For more information regarding the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy contact the Texas Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Division at (888) TEX KIDS or healthykids@agr.state.tx.us .
SPECIAL DIETS: Student Nutrition works jointly with the school nurses to provide for students with special medical dietary needs. All requests for special dietary modifications must include a written order and a prescribed diet from the student’s doctor or a registered dietitian. Parents can contact the school nurse or the Student Nutrition Department for information on such accommodations.
