CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM

Student Handbook

The National School Lunch Act of 1946 established the National School Lunch Program to safeguard the health and well being of our Nation's children.  The program is designed by Congress as a means of:

• providing nutritious, reasonably priced, reduced, or free lunches to eligible school children
• contributing to a better understanding of good nutrition
• fostering good food habits
• providing approximately one third of the Recommended Daily Allowance for nutrients in each lunch

In 1966 Congress established the School Breakfast Program to provide breakfast for students who do not eat breakfast at home. 

The health benefits of consuming needed nutrients in school meals and the opportunity to learn to eat a variety of foods contribute to the development of lifelong, good nutrition practices.

FREE/REDUCED MEAL APPLICATIONS

The Enterprise City Public School System has established a centralized application process for the Free and Reduced Price Meal Program in accordance with current USDA and State Department of Education policies and eligibility guidelines.

Family Applications

The Enterprise City Public School System uses a family application in which all students in a household who attend Enterprise City Public School System are listed on the same application.  Only one application per family can be processed.  Applications can be returned to the school office or cafeteria manager or be mailed to the Child Nutrition Program Office.  The address for the Child Nutrition Office Application is: 

CNP Free/Reduced Meal Program
P.O. Box 311790
Enterprise, AL  36331

Applications must have the parent/caregivers social security number and signature.  USDA Income Guidelines are updated every July.

Prior Year Eligibility/New Students

Free and reduced price meals may be served only to those students from households with an approved application on file in the individual schools from the previous year.  The eligibility of the students eating meals on these applications will expire at the end of the first thirty days (30 school days).  New applications must be processed during the first thirty day period for benefits to continue.

All new students and students on temporary eligibility (after the first 30 days of school) from last year must pay full price for meals until an application is officially approved for the new school year. 

Notification of Eligibility

Letters of Eligibility will be generated and returned to the schools for students to take home.  These letters will show the eligibility and the five digit PIN number that the student uses to identify themselves when receiving a meal.  The PIN number issued to the student will remain their number until they leave the school system. 

Confidentially of Information

In order to prevent overt identification of free and reduced price meal benefit recipients, the information provided by households on applications and enrollment roster shall be limited to State and Federal CNP Officials, Principals, Title 1 Officials and Enterprise City Public School System employees who are involved in the administration of the Child Nutrition Program.

Verification of Free and Reduced Applications

Three percent of the applications on file as of October 31 will require verification of income. 

In the letter to Households Notification of Selection for Verification of Eligibility, the date to submit information should be ten calendar days from the date the notification is sent.  If no response is received regarding information and/or documentation requested, a Letter of Verification Results and Adverse Action for Income Households shall be sent to the household.  This notice will indicate that benefits will be terminated two days after the date of the Notice of Adverse Action.  Free and reduced price benefits will be terminated for households that do not respond to verification efforts or whose current documentation does not support eligibility for either free or reduced price meals.  After the termination date a new application to re-establish free or reduced eligibility must be received along with the verification of income documents.

MEAL CHARGE POLICY

It is the intent of the Enterprise City Public School System to provide an opportunity for each child to eat a nutritious breakfast and lunch during the school day.  It is also the policy of the Enterprise City Public School System to comply with all federal program regulations pertaining to the National School Breakfast and National School Lunch programs.  Program regulations do not allow for unpaid charges; therefore, it is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to pay for the meals a child purchases in advance or on a daily basis. 

Enterprise City Public School System Board Policy allows for 10 days of meals to be charged.  Each local school principal at their discretion will develop a contingency plan to provide meals to a student in the event that the student does not have any money available.  No student will be allowed to charge more than 10 meals to CNP.  Theses charges must be paid promptly.  Any unpaid charges remaining at the end of the school year will result in small claim charges being filed against the parent or guardian.  If money is not available, an alternate meal of 2 oz. bread/grain, 2oz. meat/meat alternate and a carton of milk will be provided to the student.  Students who have documented dietary needs will be given a meal that meets the nutritional guidelines and the specifications of their diet restrictions if an alternate meal is needed.  A written diet prescription from a medical doctor or registered dietitian must be provided.

PRICE AND PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES

The unit price of breakfast and lunch paid by students and adults in local schools will be approved by the Superintendent.  Only students officially approved for free or reduced-price meals in accordance with state and USDA guidelines may be served food and/or beverages without charge or at a reduced price.  Cashiers will collect all payments due for meals, extra portions and ala carte items at the time the food service is provided.  Students and Staff can prepay for meals (weekly, monthly, etc) if they chose to do so.  Any monies left on an account at the end of a school year will carry over onto that students account. 

The CNP has a Student Mobility Program in which a student can purchase a meal at any school in the school district using their PIN number assigned to them.  The meals will be credited to the school that they purchase it from.

Students and employees are eligible to participate in the Enterprise City Child Nutrition Program.  Meals and ala carte items are for consumption during the regular school day.  Except for meals provided for officially approved field trips, all food must be consumed on campus.

The principal may invite parents and other guests to have a meal at school on special occasions or when the guest is at the school performing volunteer services.  Guests served by the Child Nutrition Program shall pay the adult price for the meal unless the cost of the meal is paid by the principal who extends the invitation.  Meals and ala carte foods may not be sold to guests or the public on a request and/or carry-out basis.

Meal costs are:

Students                                   Breakfast                      Lunch

  Reduced                                    .30                              .40

  Paid                                          1.00                          1.75  Grades:  Pre K - 6

                                                                                    2.00  Grades:  7-12

Faculty/Staff/Volunteer 1.25                             2.75

Visitor                                      2.25                             3.25

Key pads for entering student and staff PIN numbers are located at each Point of Sale.  

SCHOOL SALE OF COMPETITIVE FOOD AND BEVERAGES

Schools may sell only those competitive foods and beverages which make a significant contribution to the students' daily requirement for nutrients.  Food services operated for profit in the school, separate and apart from the non-profit breakfast and lunch program, may not operate during meal service periods.  All income from concessions or extra sale items being vended or sold in the Child Nutrition Program area during meal service periods must be deposited into the Child Nutrition Program account. 

CNP and School's Compliance with Guidelines

• Must be in compliance with USDA, Alabama State Nutrition Policy and Enterprise City Public School System Comprehensive Wellness Plan.

• Competitive Foods will be prohibited.  Competitive foods and beverages are any foods that compete with the CNP meals.
• Meal service times - is considered from the beginning time of the first meal wave to the ending time of the last meal wave.  No foods/beverages of competitive sources can be served during these times.  Daily lunch meal service times cannot start prior to 10 a.m. on a full day school schedule.
• Breaks to have access to vending or other sales cannot be scheduled immediately (fifteen minutes) before, during or immediately (fifteen minutes) after meal service times.  This in effect competes with the meal service.  Foods/beverages sold will follow the policy for sale of competitive foods
• Foods served and /or sold through the cafeteria shall adhere to the guidelines established by USDA and published in the School Meals Initiative (SMI) for Healthy Children, 1995 guidance.  Serving sizes will comply with the meal pattern requirements as described by USDA regulations.  Adults receive secondary student serving sizes. School lunches should meet the standard of providing one-third and school breakfasts the standard of furnishing one-fourth of the Recommended Dietary Allowances for protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron, calcium, and calories.
• Foods not normally used in meeting the requirements of the reimbursable meal and not meeting the nutritional criteria should be eliminated or portion sizes reduced in order to be in compliance with the requirements.
• Guidelines for foods/beverages served during school hours MUST comply with USDA and the Alabama State Department of Education.   Alabama Department of Education Obesity Task Force is the committee who developed the initial Nutrition Policy.
• No one on the school campus will provide access to "for sale" or "free" foods/beverages of minimal nutritional value.  Foods/beverages that have as the first ingredient:  sugar, corn syrup, shortening, lard, or similar, may not be available to students on school grounds during the normal school day.   This includes school parties, celebrations and meetings, candy jars on the teacher's desk.
• Fund Raising - Foods sold for fundraising purposes are prohibited during meal times.  All fundraising activities that involve the selling of food should reinforce food choices that promote good health.  All foods sold/served during the school day must meet the requirements of USDA and Alabama State Dept. of Education.  Pizza by the slice, doughnuts, etc. do not meet the criteria for nutritional requirements.  Also, the health hazard potential of some foods being out of temperature pose a concern for food-borne illnesses.
• All events outside of the school day are not affected by the Wellness Plan.  Booster clubs, etc. are free to select items for sale for specific fundraising and concession sales as they see fit as long as the activity does not conflict with the position of the Alabama State Nutrition Policy and Enterprise City Public School System Comprehensive Wellness Plan.
• Students cannot be denied access to meal service in the cafeteria.  Food and/or physical activity are not used as a punishment or food as a reward.  If a school requires students to wear ID badges, they cannot be denied access to meals if they do not have their badge.  They must be provided meal service.  Adequate time should be allowed for students to eat their meals.

Guidelines for Foods and Beverages

(Not part of a reimbursable meal)

• Special attention must be given to portion sizes: 
• Chips (baked), crackers, popcorn, cereal, trail mix, nuts, seeds, dried fruit and pretzels - 1-1/4 oz.
• Low-fat* cookies/cereal bars - 1 oz.
• Low-fat* bakery items (pastries and muffins) - 2 oz.
• Frozen dairy desserts, low fat* ice cream, pudding and "Jello" fruit bowls - 4 oz. - This includes ice cream that is purchased for sales from Ice Cream Warehouse/Blue Bunny.
• Yogurt (low fat*) - 8 oz.
• Beverages - water  - any size
• Other beverages - sports, 100% juice, low-sugar smoothies, etc - 12 oz.
• 1% or less fat milk - 16 oz.  
• *Low-fat indicates foods with less than or equal to 3 grams total fat per serving
• Nutritional content of foods served must be considered when selling or providing foods to students (all of the following criteria for foods served must be met):
• Low or moderate in fat (10% or less of the Daily Value of total fat)
• 30 grams or less of carbohydrates per serving (10% or less of the Daily Value of total CHO)
• 360 mg of sodium or less
• Contain 5% Daily Value or more of at least one:  Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron, Calcium or Fiber.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S. W., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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