In FCPS, we support every student, every day, and we recognize that a students success is dependent on having healthy and nourishing meals.
If your child has special dietary needs such as food allergies or intolerances, a Special Dietary Needs form should be completed and submitted to the school nurse or health room tech. We will make reasonable accommodations for children who have food allergies, intolerances or other special dietary needs. If your child has other dietary requests for reasons such as religious preferences, an email can be sent to [email protected] requesting that we add a note to the child's account. We accommodate preferences when possible.
If you would like to add a note to your child's meal account to restrict meals, snacks, a la carte items or second meals, you can contact food and nutrition services at [email protected] or call the food service office at 240-586-8152.
If a student does not have funds for meals, we always provide breakfast and lunch at the elementary, middle and high school levels by allowing students to charge meals. In high schools, students can charge 1 meal, either breakfast or lunch. The charge limit for grades PreK-8 is four meals (breakfast and/or lunch). To make parents or guardians aware that their child charged a meal, our policy is to email the parent or guardian listed as as the primary contact with the school.
After the Food and Nutrition charge limit is reached, the school your child attends will pay the money for a child's breakfast or lunch through either a PTA or administrative account. Meanwhile, either the school administration or food service department will follow up with the family to collect funds. If families are unable to pay, we encourage families to consider applying for Free and Reduced-Price Meal benefits (FARM).
Families can apply at any point during the school year for FARM benefits.
Read more about our procedure for unpaid meals or charging meals.
The Nutrition Services department is made up of a team of food and nutrition professionals that are dedicated to students' health, wellbeing and their ability to learn. We support learning by promoting healthy habits for lifelong nutrition and fitness.
Meals, foods and beverages sold or served at schools meet state and federal requirements which are based on the USDA Dietary Guidelines. We provide students with access to a variety of affordable and appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students.