25-26 School Year Meal Policy & Pricing Update
The updated 25-26 Meal Policy and Prices are below. They are reviewed annually to ensure they meet USDA pricing guidelines. CEP schools offer free meals to all students; however, students must have a positive cafeteria account balance to purchase a la carte items.
• Breakfast (K-12): Free for all students
• Elementary (K–5) Lunch: Only $2.50
• Middle & High (6–12) Lunch: Just $2.75
• Adult Breakfast: $4.00
• Adult Lunch: $5.00
UPDATED: St. Lucie Public Schools Meal Charging Policy/Procedure
All St. Lucie Public Schools must adhere to the Meal Charging Policy set forth by the USDA. All students who qualify for a free meal benefit will not be denied a meal even if there are meal charges on the account. Students’ accounts can accrue up to $25.00 of charges for reimbursable meals only. No à la carte items are permitted to be charged. No adults are allowed to charge.
1. Students are allowed to charge up to $25.00 for receiving a reimbursable meal. The students will receive the same school lunch as other students.
2. Students who have accrued a negative balance will receive notification of charges through the district communication system, written notification, and/or a phone call from the school. Parents will be encouraged to make payments through either our online prepayment system or in the cafeteria.
3. Households will continue to receive notification of charges until the charges are paid in full. Notifications will be sent through the district communication system twice a week.
4. Up to three courtesy meals will be offered to students who have maximized their charge limit. A courtesy meal consists of a cheese sandwich, a vegetable, a fruit, and low-fat white milk. The school meals program will maintain a list of students who receive or refuse a courtesy meal.
5. If a pattern of receiving courtesy meals is evident, the Child Nutrition Services Department will attempt to discuss the issue with the parent or guardian to encourage them to complete a free and reduced meal application. If the practice continues and the parents/guardians remain unresponsive, the Child Nutrition Services Department will initiate a plan for Student Services to contact the household to complete a meal application for the student and determine if the student is known to be eligible for free or reduced meals.
6. Any time there is an uncollected balance in a student’s meal account, the student will be prevented from purchasing à la carte items.
7. Any unpaid balance on a student’s account will be carried over from year to year.
8. The parent is responsible for the uncollected balance.
