Our schools lo$e if we don't follow cafeteria rules

All San Francisco school cafeterias are required to follow all regulations set by the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).

All adults, and student helpers too, are required to follow the rules. (This means teachers, staff, administrators, parents and other volunteers, not just cafeteria workers.)

The NSLP reimburses our school district for meals for low-income students. If an NSLP audit spots violations, the district won’t get the reimbursements. That can cost our district millions of dollars. That money would come from the school district budget — penalizing our students, teachers, classrooms and schools

Spot audits are conducted periodically.

These are some of the federal rules that must be followed in our cafeterias.

— Students of all ages must have lunch cards and must hold the cards themselves. Adults may not hold them. This includes kindergarten!
— Students must be offered at least five food items at lunch, must select at least three items and must do it themselves. Adults may not put items on the trays.
— Trays cannot be pre-filled with meal items and handed to students or placed on tables for them. This includes kindergarten!
— Students must carry their own trays through the line. Adults may not carry them.
— Cafeterias must offer two types of milk.
— No stickers or other marks may be placed on lunch cards to identify low-income students.
— The required “And Justice for All” posters and Wellness Policy must be posted on cafeteria walls.

These regulations are set by the federal government. For more information, go to www.sfusdfood.org. Thank you for your cooperation in helping our school meal program function in accordance with regulations, and without risking fines that jeopardize our children’s educational resources.