About School Meals

California has become the first state to pass a universal free school meals program for all public school students. Palo Alto Unified School District will provide two free meals (breakfast and lunch) during each school day to students requesting a meal, regardless of students’ free or reduced-price meal eligibility starting in the 2022-23 school year.

Although all students may receive free meals without applying, we strongly encourage parents to apply as completion of these forms may bring significant additional funds to our schools, as well as, qualify students for individual benefits such as discounts and/or waivers of the college application fees, AP testing fees, internet services, summer programs, access to higher education scholarships, after-school club scholarships, holiday gifts, and many other learning and enrichment opportunities. You or your children do not have to be United States citizen to qualify.

Apply online at paloalto.familyportal.cloud or return a completed application form (available at all school sites and at the district office, or download here: English and Spanish). Return completed forms to Food Services, 25 Churchill Ave., Palo Alto CA 94306.

PAUSD has been offering free meals to all students for the past two years regardless of their free or reduced-price meal eligibility because, due to COVID-19, in March 2020, the USDA established a waiver to allow school districts to offer free meals. Universal free meals will not start until the first day of the school year 2022-23.

Applications for the 2022-23 school year will be accepted starting July 1, 2022.

Due to the increase in meal participation, some changes are necessary:

Second lunches will not be served.

Under the guidelines for free meals for all students, only one lunch per student is allowed. If you feel that your child will need additional food throughout the day, please send additional snacks with them at the time of drop off.

Elementary students will no longer sign up for specific entrees in the classroom.

PAUSD offers vegetarian entrees daily. PAUSD Food Services will try to accommodate all students wanting meals with the food available but, cannot guarantee that students will receive their desired preference on the days where two entrees are offered (Monday's and Friday's). Students will need to utilize their lunch card (provided by school) so that meals can be accurately counted.

No cash transactions

Meals are FREE to ALL STUDENTS. There is no need to deposit money into your student's lunch account except for high school students who want to buy a la carte items. Cash will not be taken at the point of service. There is no option to pay for additional meals as second meals are not allowed at this time. Parents may add funds to their students' accounts by paying online, giving checks to cafeteria cashiers, or mailing checks to Student Nutrition Services, 25 Churchill Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306.

Food Services will assess the menu monthly

The menu selections and meal participation will be assessed monthly. There are entrees that were served pre-pandemic that are not feasible with FREE meals for ALL STUDENTS. Pizza Day will not be on our menus weekly. There will be limited choices available to accommodate the increased meal participation. Please refer to the menu for daily selections.

For more information please call Food Services at 650-329-3720. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Procedures

Elementary Schools

Students who want school meals go to the MP room to pick up their breakfasts and lunches at morning recess and lunch time, respectively.

Secondary Schools

Students go to the cafeterias to select their choice of food items during brunch or lunch hours. They need to enter their student ID number. Please contact Food Services or your school office for your student’s ID number.

Meal Charges Policy

All students will be allowed to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each day. No student will be allowed to receive second meals.
A la carte items will only be sold at high schools at this time. Students whose accounts are negative and who attempt to get a la carte snacks will be told that their account is not set up to charge for this. In the event that a student's account goes into the negative, parents will be notified via email.

School Breakfast Facts

Here are some fun facts about school breakfast:

It’s easy! Instead of running around in the morning trying to make sure your children eat a healthy meal, let us do the work. They can get a great breakfast at school, and there will be no dishes for you to wash!
It’s tasty! Schools now have more variety to choose from when deciding what to offer your children for breakfast. Request a menu so you can view what your child may be eating at school.
It’s good for the brain! Research suggests that not having breakfast can affect children’s intellectual performance (CDC).

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

New School Nutrition Regulations

After much research on school meals, coupled with the recent release of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2012, the USDA announced new government regulations that will substantially change school meal requirements for the first time in decades.

Here in the Palo Alto Unified School District, we began making similar changes to our menus a few years ago. Many of our menu items are now made with healthier ingredients such as whole grains.

Please take some time and revisit our menus as they offer new items such as soup, tortellini, fish tacos, etc. We have also been modifying recipes to include less sodium and saturated fat. Students will be offered foods from five food groups (grains, fruit, vegetable, protein, and dairy) and they must take at least 3 of the 5 menu items. In addition, they must always take at least half cup of a fruit or vegetable.

Please be proactive and talk with your child about the USDA ChooseMyPlate. We will use this identifier to try and help students put into practice the guidelines needed to help them build healthier meals. Visit USDA ChooseMyPlate for more information.

Meal Integrity Plan

Site Monitoring

A Site Monitoring Review (CDE Form SNP-25b for SSO) is completed at all sites that are serving meals. This review must be completed, at a minimum, during the first week of operation. The completed review form is kept on file. The Site Monitoring Review may be a desk audit but an in person audit is preferred.

A pre-operative review will be conducted by Food Services one week prior to a site opening to make sure all cold and hot food storage equipment is in operating order, equipment temperature logs are onsite, and Justice for All Posters are posted at the meal service location. The Food Services Leads will make sure the site has the menu, menu production records, and tally forms.

Staff training is conducted throughout the year that align with the Professional Standards requirement to include, but not limited to, production records, meal components, what constitutes a reimbursable meal, MCCP / Integrity Plan and food safety.

Special Dietary Needs

PAUSD, to the best of our ability, makes menu accommodations for children with special dietary needs. Households are required to complete a Medical Statement to Request Special Meals and/or Meal Accommodations, which is posted online at the PAUSD website. The school nurse notifies Food Services of any students with special dietary needs that are attending on campus so that accommodations can be made.

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