Child Nutrition - Charge Policy


	Child Nutrition Services Charge Policy

The Davidson County School System participates in the National School Lunch Program sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) which permits the school system to offer free and reduced priced meals to students who qualify. Due to reporting requirements, the child nutrition program cannot permit excessive and reoccurring charges of meals. Customers may, however, pay for meals in advance.

Families who wish to apply for free or reduce meals must complete an application each year. The family of any DCS student may submit an application at any time during the school year. Applications are available in each school's cafeteria, main office, or on the DCS website. Applicants are responsible for meals until a free or reduced application is completed and approved.

Meal and item charges are permitted as follows for ALL Davidson County School students:

For all elementary and middle school students, including but not limited to reduced meal benefit students, up to three breakfasts and three lunches may be charged ($11.25).
NO charges will be allowed for high school students.
After the student has incurred charges of $11.25, the student will have a lunch meal choice of peanut butter and jelly sandwich, fresh fruit with white milk or cheese sandwich, fresh fruit with white milk and a breakfast meal choice of cereal, toast, fresh fruit and white milk. This will meet the reimbursable meal option.
When the student's meal charge reaches $37.50, the account balance charge may then be turned over to a collection agency selected and approved by the Superintendent of the Davidson County Schools, and the breakfast and lunch sandwich meal option will continue until the total outstanding charges are reduced below $11.25.
NO supplemental sales items, such as milk, cookies, ice cream or potato chips, may be charged at any time.
NO supplemental items will be allowed for purchase until all outstanding charges are paid in full. Any money given to the cafeteria will be applied toward any outstanding charge balance.
Child Nutrition Services will call all parents every Wednesday for any meal charge and will call every day for charges over $11.25.
If the student's charge balance exceeds $75.00, at the discretion of the school principal and social worker, Davidson County Social Services (DSS) may be contacted in relation to potential student neglect.
Child Nutrition Department allows parents to prepay for meals and put money on their child's account at www.lunchprepay.com . This website also allows parents to get a detailed report of purchases made by their child.