Due to recent questions regarding offering school lunch on half days, the Maine DOE’s Office of Child Nutrition is clarifying the National School Lunch Program Agreement to Participate.
The school lunch meal is to be offered to students every day at school. The participation agreement is signed by the superintendent of every district. If it is a planned school day, then the plan must include a basic approved lunch. The only exception to this is unplanned early releases or late-start type events. Daily lunches are a benefit and right of all students.
For more information, please contact Maine DOE Child Nutrition Specialist Walter Beesley at walter.beesley@maine.gov.