Student Meal Charge Policy

SPS Student Meal Charge Policy

Seattle Public Schools is committed to providing nutritious meals to all students. However, we expect all families and students to fulfill their obligation to pay for meals prior to purchase. Any outstanding debt on a student’s meal account will be pursued by the district.

Payment Expectations

Seattle Public Schools is committed to ensuring students have access to meals while also maintaining responsible stewardship of district resources.

Families are responsible for charges associated with:

Debt from previous school years
À la carte purchases
Extra milk or other individual food items
Additional meals after the one free breakfast and one free lunch
Any charges not covered through free meal benefits or CEP eligibility

Negative balances may result in meal debt. Families are encouraged to monitor student account balances and make timely payments. Questions regarding balances or payment arrangements should be directed to the school’s lunchroom manager or Culinary Services.

Collection of Outstanding Debt

Seattle Public Schools reserves the right to collect on outstanding debt incurred by students and families. This includes, notifying parents/guardians of delinquent accounts. If your family and/or student is experiencing a financial hardship, please contact your School Administrator to determine any options available to you and/or your family.

Policy Compliance

Our Student Meal Debt Policy is guided by the following supported documentation:

We encourage all families and students to carefully review these documents and understand their responsibilities regarding meal payments.

Reminders and Notifications

To avoid accumulation of debt, we recommend that families and students:

Regularly check their student meal account balance
Keep track of meal purchases and payments
Notify the school cafeteria staff or school administration if there are any issues with their account

By working together, we can ensure that every student has access to nutritious meals while maintaining a positive balance on their account.

If you have any questions or concerns about our Student Meal Debt Policy, please do not hesitate to contact culinaryservices@seattleschools.org.