File: EFC - Free and Reduced-Price Food Services

NOTE: While Colorado school districts are not required by law to adopt a policy on this subject, CASB believes this sample contains the content/language that reflects “best practices.” However, the district should consult with its own legal counsel to determine appropriate language that meets local circumstances and needs

The district shall take part as feasible in the National School Lunch and other food programs which may become available to ensure that all students in the district receive proper nourishment.

The administration shall establish regulations regarding participation in programs for free and reduced price meals and supplementary food in accordance with applicable state and federal law.

(Adoption date)

LEGAL REFS.: 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq. (National School Lunch Act)

7 C.F.R. 245.5 (must inform families of the availability of reimbursable school meals and provide information about applying for free or reduced price meals)

C.R.S. 22-32-120 (food services)

C.R.S. 22-82.7-101 et seq. (Start Smart Nutrition Program provides funding to eliminate amount students who qualify for reduced price meals pay in school breakfast program)

C.R.S. 22-82.9-101 et seq. (Child Nutrition School Lunch Protection Program provides funding to eliminate the amount students in preschool through twelfth grade pay for school lunch program, if they qualify for reduced price meals)

C.R.S. 22-82.9-201 et seq. (Healthy School Meals for All Program provides funding to offer free meals for all students, in addition to additional funding in the form of grants)

1 CCR 301-114 (State Board rules for Healthy School Meals for All Program)

CROSS REF.: EF, School Nutrition Program

NOTE 1: Registration materials that accompany the application form for students to participate under the National School Lunch Act shall include an explanation to parents that the form will be used to determine if the school is eligible for at-risk funding on behalf of the student(s). By completing the form, the parent is ensuring that the school district will receive the at-risk funding to which it is entitled. C.R.S. 22-54-112 (4).

NOTE 2: Schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program and have seventy percent or more students eligible for free or reduced-cost lunch must offer a free breakfast to each student. C.R.S. 22-82.8-103 (3)(b). The breakfast may be served at a time determined by the school, as long as it occurs after the first bell. C.R.S. 22-82.8-103 (3)(c). Small rural districts with a student population of less than 1,000 students are exempt from this requirement and there is also flexibility for other specific situations (e.g. funding decrease, before-school care programs).

NOTE 3: The Healthy School Meals for All Program is an optional program that offers free meals to students who are not eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the federal school meals programs. Participating School Food Authorities must offer the federal National School Lunch or School Breakfast program at all eligible schools in order to be eligible and maximize the amount of federal funding they can receive by participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) to the extent possible. Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, the program creates various grants and stipends available to schools. These include a local food processing grant for schools to purchase Colorado grown, raised, or processed products; a school meals food preparation and service employees wage increase or stipend; and a local school food purchasing technical assistance and education grant program. To opt into this program, a school food authority must notify the CDE School Nutrition Unit of participation prior to the beginning of each school year, participate in the CEP and implement School Breakfast and National School Lunch programs at all eligible CEP schools, and serve free meals to all students at participating schools in both community eligible and non-community eligible schools.

[Revised May 2023]