Texas Department of Agriculture Authority

Note: Regulations applicable to federal nutrition programs are found at the following:

Program Compliance

Administrative Review

School Nutrition Program Professional Standards

Minimum Standards for School Nutrition Program Directors

Exempt Fundraisers


Unpaid Meal Charges

State Law

  1. Must allow a student whose meal card or account balance is exhausted or insufficient to continue, for a period determined by the board, to purchase meals by:
    1. Accumulating a negative balance on the student's card or account; or
    2. Otherwise receiving an extension of credit from the district;
  2. Must require the district to notify the parent of or person standing in parental relation to the student that the student's meal card or account balance is exhausted;
  3. May not permit the district to charge a fee or interest in connection with meals purchased under item 1, above; and
  4. May permit the district to set a schedule for repayment on the account balance as part of the notice to the parent or person standing in parental relation to the student.

Federal Law

  1. Have a written and clearly communicated meal charge policy in order to ensure a consistent and transparent approach to the issue of how students who pay the full or reduced price cost of a reimbursable meal are impacted by having insufficient funds on hand or in their account to purchase a meal.
  2. Include policies regarding the collection of delinquent meal charge debt in the written meal charge policy.
  3. Ensure that the policy is provided in writing to all households at the start of each school year and to households that transfer to the school during the school year.
  4. Provide the meal charge policy to all school or SFA-level staff responsible for policy enforcement, including school food service professionals responsible for collecting payment for meals at the point of service, staff involved in notifying families of low or negative balances, and staff involved in enforcing any other aspects of the meal charge policy.

Lauren's Law

  1. Children in the classroom of the child on the occasion of the child's birthday; or
  2. Children at a school-designated function.

Donation of Food

  1. Surplus food prepared for breakfast, lunch, or dinner meals or a snack to be served at the campus cafeteria, subject to any applicable local, state, and federal requirements; or
  2. Food donated to the campus as the result of a food drive or similar event.

Alief ISD



DATE ISSUED: 1/31/2019