{
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"code": "3553",
"title": "Free And Reduced Price Meals",
"type": "BP",
"section": "3000",
"lastRevised": "11/19/2025",
"lastReviewed": "11/19/2025",
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"contentHtml": "\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\nThe Governing Board recognizes that adequate nutrition is essential to the development, health and well-being, and learning of all students. The Superintendent or designee shall facilitate and encourage the participation of all students in the district's food service program. \n \nEach school day, the district shall make available, free of charge, one nutritionally adequate breakfast and one nutritionally adequate lunch for any student who requests a meal. (Education Code 49501.5) \n \nAfter a student has been provided a school meal at no cost, the district may sell the student the entrée from an additional nutritionally adequate meal that qualifies for federal reimbursement, from the same meal service. (Education Code 49431) \n \nTo provide optimal nutrition and ensure that schools receive maximum federal meal reimbursement, the Superintendent or designee shall assess the eligibility of district schools to operate a federal universal meal service provision, such as Provision 2 or the Community Eligibility Provision, pursuant to 42 USC 1759a. The Superintendent or designee shall submit an application to operate a federal universal meal provision to the California Department of Education (CDE) on behalf of any district school that meets the definition of a "high poverty school." (Education Code 49564.3) \n \nThe Superintendent or designee shall ensure that meals served under the school nutrition program meet applicable state and/or federal nutritional standards, as specified in law and district-adopted guidelines. \n \nThe Governing Board shall approve, and shall submit to CDE for approval, a plan that ensures that students eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals are not treated differently from other students and that meets other requirements specified in Education Code 49557. \n \nConfidentiality/Release of Records \n \nAll applications and records related to eligibility for the free and reduced-price meal program shall be confidential and may not be disclosed except as provided by law and authorized by the Governing Board or pursuant to a court order. (Education Code 49558) \n \nThe Governing Board authorizes designated employees to use records pertaining to an individual student's eligibility for the free and reduced-price meal program for the following purposes: (Education Code 49558) \n \n
1. Disaggregation of academic achievement data \n \n2. Identification of students eligible for services under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act pursuant to 20 USC 6301-6576 \n \n3. Facilitation of targeted educational services and supports to individual students based on the local control accountability plan
\n \nIf a student transfers from the district to another district, charter school, county office of education program, or private school, the Superintendent or designee may share the student's meal eligibility information to the other educational agency to assist that other educational agency in ensuring that the student continues to receive school meals. \n \nThe Superintendent or designee may release the name and eligibility status of a student participating in the free or reduced-price meal program to another school district, charter school, or county office of education that is serving a student living in the same household for purposes related to program eligibility and data used in local control funding formula (LCFF) calculations. (Education Code 49558) \n \nThe Superintendent or designee may release the name and eligibility status of a student participating in the free or reduced-price meal program to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for purposes of determining allocations under the LCFF and for assessing accountability of that funding. (Education Code 49558) \n \nThe Superintendent or designee may release information on the school lunch program application to the local agency that determines eligibility for participation in the Medi-Cal program if the student has been approved for free meals or, if included in the agreement with the local agency, for reduced-price meals. The Superintendent or designee also may release information on the school lunch application to the local agency that determines eligibility for CalFresh or another nutrition assistance program authorized under 7 CFR 210.1 if the student has been approved for free or reduced-price meals. Information may be released for these purposes only if the student's parent/guardian consents to the sharing of information and the district has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the local agency which, at a minimum, includes the roles and responsibilities of the district and local agency and the process for sharing the information. After sharing information with the local agency for purposes of determining eligibility for that program, no further information shall be shared unless otherwise authorized by law. (Education Code 49557.2, 49557.3, 49558)\n\n",
"contentText": "The Governing Board recognizes that adequate nutrition is essential to the development, health and well-being, and learning of all students. The Superintendent or designee shall facilitate and encourage the participation of all students in the district's food service program.\n\nEach school day, the district shall make available, free of charge, one nutritionally adequate breakfast and one nutritionally adequate lunch for any student who requests a meal. (Education Code 49501.5)\n\nAfter a student has been provided a school meal at no cost, the district may sell the student the entrée from an additional nutritionally adequate meal that qualifies for federal reimbursement, from the same meal service. (Education Code 49431)\n\nTo provide optimal nutrition and ensure that schools receive maximum federal meal reimbursement, the Superintendent or designee shall assess the eligibility of district schools to operate a federal universal meal service provision, such as Provision 2 or the Community Eligibility Provision, pursuant to 42 USC 1759a. The Superintendent or designee shall submit an application to operate a federal universal meal provision to the California Department of Education (CDE) on behalf of any district school that meets the definition of a \"high poverty school.\" (Education Code 49564.3)\n\nThe Superintendent or designee shall ensure that meals served under the school nutrition program meet applicable state and/or federal nutritional standards, as specified in law and district-adopted guidelines.\n\nThe Governing Board shall approve, and shall submit to CDE for approval, a plan that ensures that students eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals are not treated differently from other students and that meets other requirements specified in Education Code 49557.\n\nConfidentiality/Release of Records\n\nAll applications and records related to eligibility for the free and reduced-price meal program shall be confidential and may not be disclosed except as provided by law and authorized by the Governing Board or pursuant to a court order. (Education Code 49558)\n\nThe Governing Board authorizes designated employees to use records pertaining to an individual student's eligibility for the free and reduced-price meal program for the following purposes: (Education Code 49558)\n\n1. Disaggregation of academic achievement data\n\n2. Identification of students eligible for services under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act pursuant to 20 USC 6301-6576\n\n3. Facilitation of targeted educational services and supports to individual students based on the local control accountability plan\n\nIf a student transfers from the district to another district, charter school, county office of education program, or private school, the Superintendent or designee may share the student's meal eligibility information to the other educational agency to assist that other educational agency in ensuring that the student continues to receive school meals.\n\nThe Superintendent or designee may release the name and eligibility status of a student participating in the free or reduced-price meal program to another school district, charter school, or county office of education that is serving a student living in the same household for purposes related to program eligibility and data used in local control funding formula (LCFF) calculations. (Education Code 49558)\n\nThe Superintendent or designee may release the name and eligibility status of a student participating in the free or reduced-price meal program to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for purposes of determining allocations under the LCFF and for assessing accountability of that funding. (Education Code 49558)\n\nThe Superintendent or designee may release information on the school lunch program application to the local agency that determines eligibility for participation in the Medi-Cal program if the student has been approved for free meals or, if included in the agreement with the local agency, for reduced-price meals. The Superintendent or designee also may release information on the school lunch application to the local agency that determines eligibility for CalFresh or another nutrition assistance program authorized under 7 CFR 210.1 if the student has been approved for free or reduced-price meals. Information may be released for these purposes only if the student's parent/guardian consents to the sharing of information and the district has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the local agency which, at a minimum, includes the roles and responsibilities of the district and local agency and the process for sharing the information. After sharing information with the local agency for purposes of determining eligibility for that program, no further information shall be shared unless otherwise authorized by law. (Education Code 49557.2, 49557.3, 49558)",
"footnotes": [
{
"type": "State",
"references": [
{
"code": "5 CCR 15510",
"description": "Mandatory meals for needy students",
"url": "https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/I43C602534C6911EC93A8000D3A7C4BC3?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default)"
},
{
"code": "5 CCR 15530-15535",
"description": "Nutrition education",
"url": "https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Browse/Home/California/CaliforniaCodeofRegulations?guid=I43CA6F204C6911EC93A8000D3A7C4BC3&transitionType=Default&contextData=%28sc.Default%29#I43CC1CD34C6911EC93A8000D3A7C4BC3"
},
{
"code": "5 CCR 15550-15565",
"description": "School lunch and breakfast programs",
"url": "https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Browse/Home/California/CaliforniaCodeofRegulations?guid=I43DD33D04C6911EC93A8000D3A7C4BC3&transitionType=Default&contextData=%28sc.Default%29#I43DEE1844C6911EC93A8000D3A7C4BC3"
},
{
"code": "Ed. Code 48980",
"description": "Parent/Guardian notifications",
"url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=48980."
},
{
"code": "Ed. Code 49430-49434",
"description": "Pupil Nutrition, Health, and Achievement Act of 2001",
"url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=EDC&division=4.&title=2.&part=27.&chapter=9.&article=2.5."
},
{
"code": "Ed. Code 49490-49494",
"description": "School breakfast and lunch programs",
"url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=EDC&division=4.&title=2.&part=27.&chapter=9.&article=7."
},
{
"code": "Ed. Code 49501.5-49506",
"description": "School Meals",
"url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=EDC&division=4.&title=2.&part=27.&chapter=9.&article=8."
},
{
"code": "Ed. Code 49510-49520",
"description": "Nutrition",
"url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=EDC&division=4.&title=2.&part=27.&chapter=9.&article=9."
},
{
"code": "Ed. Code 49530-49536",
"description": "Child Nutrition Act",
"url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=EDC&division=4.&title=2.&part=27.&chapter=9.&article=10."
},
{
"code": "Ed. Code 49547-49548.3",
"description": "Comprehensive nutrition services",
"url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=EDC&division=4.&title=2.&part=27.&chapter=9.&article=10.7."
},
{
"code": "Ed. Code 49550.3-49562",
"description": "Meals for needy students",
"url": ""
},
{
"code": "Ed. Code 49564.3",
"description": "High-poverty schools; universal meal service",
"url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=49564.3."
}
]
},
{
"type": "Federal",
"references": [
{
"code": "20 USC 1232g",
"description": "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974",
"url": "https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:20%20section:1232g%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title20-section1232g)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true"
},
{
"code": "20 USC 6301-6576",
"description": "Title I Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged",
"url": ""
},
{
"code": "42 USC 1751-1769j",
"description": "School Lunch Program",
"url": "https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title42/chapter13&edition=prelim"
},
{
"code": "42 USC 1771-1791",
"description": "Child nutrition",
"url": ""
},
{
"code": "42 USC 1773",
"description": "School Breakfast Program",
"url": "https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:42%20section:1773%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section1773)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true"
},
{
"code": "7 CFR 210.1-210.33",
"description": "National School Lunch Program",
"url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-II/subchapter-A/part-210"
},
{
"code": "7 CFR 220.10-220.21",
"description": "National School Breakfast Program",
"url": ""
},
{
"code": "7 CFR 245.1-245.13",
"description": "Eligibility for free and reduced-price meals and free milk",
"url": ""
}
]
},
{
"type": "Management Resources",
"references": [
{
"code": "California Department of Education Publication",
"description": "Updated Guidance on Sharing of School Meal Applications and the Passing of Assembly Bill 1599, Management Bulletin SNP-12-2015, July 2015",
"url": "https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sn/mbsnp122015.asp"
},
{
"code": "California Department of Education Publication",
"description": "Clarification on the Sharing of Individual Student Eligibility Information for Local Control and Accountability Plan Purposes, Management Bulletin SNP-02-2018, May 2018",
"url": "https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sn/mbsnp022018.asp"
},
{
"code": "CSBA Publication",
"description": "Monitoring for Success: A Guide for Assessing and Strengthening Student Wellness Policies, 2012",
"url": "https://www.csba.org/-/media/CSBA/Files/GovernanceResources/EducationIssues/ConditionsofChildren/201211MonitoringForSuccess.ashx?la=en&rev=90a8b252b84a4e80b2ebd6c1a6899865"
},
{
"code": "CSBA Publication",
"description": "Student Wellness: A Healthy Food and Physical Activity Policy Resource Guide, April 2006",
"url": "https://www.csba.org/~/~/media/B5947DF3DE58432C9B038C9C38360684.ashx"
},
{
"code": "U.S. Department of Agriculture Publication",
"description": "Provision 2 Guidance: National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, Summer 2002",
"url": "https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/provision-2-guidance-national-school-lunch-and-school-breakfast-programs"
},
{
"code": "U.S. Dept of Agriculture Publication",
"description": "Eligibility Manual for School Meals: Determining and Verifying Eligibility, July 2017",
"url": "https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/eligibility-manual-school-meals"
},
{
"code": "Website",
"description": "CSBA District and County Office of Education Legal Services",
"url": "https://legalservices.csba.org/"
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{
"code": "Website",
"description": "U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service",
"url": "http://www.fns.usda.gov"
},
{
"code": "Website",
"description": "Nourish California",
"url": "http://www.cfpa.net"
},
{
"code": "Website",
"description": "California Project LEAN (Leaders Encouraging Activity and Nutrition)",
"url": "http://www.californiaprojectlean.org"
},
{
"code": "Website",
"description": "California Department of Education, School Nutrition",
"url": "https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sn/"
},
{
"code": "Website",
"description": "CSBA",
"url": "http://www.csba.org"
}
]
}
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{
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