Charging Policy

MEAL CHARGING

Students may charge reimbursable meals for a limited time

•  Families are expected to keep student meal account(s) current.
•  Charged meals are tracked in the student’s meal account within the point of sale system.
•  Students may not charge a la carte items.
•  Students may not purchase a la carte items with cash (bottled beverages, milk, extra entrees, snack items, etc.) when their account is in the negative.
•  Communication is emailed to all families twice a week with negative balances until the negative balance is cleared.

Prevention & Communication of Low or Insufficient Funds

There are a number of measures in place for all schools to prevent students and families from experiencing negative meal account balances, which include verbal reminders, low balance emails, and auto calls.

Methods of Payment for Meals

• SchoolCafé - Food & Nutrition Services offers an online system for families to check balances and make payments. For more information, click here
• Bring Payment – Cash and checks are accepted in the school cafeteria
• Free & Reduced Meal Benefits – Families can submit an application for meal benefits at any time during the school year. For application information, click here. Paper applications are available at every school and at the Food & Nutrition Services Office, located at 809 Quail Street, Building 1, Lakewood, CO 80215.

Collections of Delinquent Meal Payments

Delinquent Debt – As defined by USDA, delinquent debt includes unpaid meal charges that are considered collectible, and efforts are being made to collect them. Delinquent debt, or a negative balance, remains on the accounting documents (accounts receivable) until it is collected.

  To view the complete Meal Charge Procedure, click on the desired language below:

   English    Spanish    Russian    Vietnamese