File: EFC - Free and Reduced-Price Food Services

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.

Adopted:  prior to 1976

Reviewed and Approved:  March 04, 2008/ January 12, 2010/ April 14, 2015/ October 10, 2017/ May 12, 2020

Reviewed and approved:  October 8, 2024

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)

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).