National School Lunch Program

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in the Clark County School District, which provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to students.

The goal of the CCSD Child Nutrition Program is to serve nutritious, appetizing and affordable meals to students.  We believe that good nutrition is an important key to learning and that every child has the right to a nutritious breakfast and lunch at the lowest possible price.

Lunch menus are posted in all school cafeterias.  Menus are also available on-line.

Breakfast is currently offered to elementary school students for $1.00.  Middle school and high school breakfasts cost $1.25.  Students approved for reduced price meals pay $.30 for breakfast while those approved for free meals pay nothing.  Lunches are currently $1.50 at elementary schools and range from $2.00 to $3.00 at middle schools and participating high schools.  Students approved for reduced price meals pay $.40 for lunch while those approved for free meals pay nothing.  Free and reduced price meals are available to qualifying students at elementary, middle, outlying high schools as well as most local area high schools.

Policy Statement:  The USDA, Food and Nutrition Service Instruction 791-1 (revised) prohibits the denial of meals as a disciplinary action to all children who participate in the school nutrition program.  This prohibition does not extend to the denial of meals for failure to pay.  The school will not provide free meals unless the student qualifies for free meal benefits.  Students who do not qualify for free meals must pay for their meals.

For further information regarding the child nutrition program, or for assistance in completing the application please call the Food Service Office at 1-800-819-7556.

Free/Reduced Price Meals:  The National School Lunch and Breakfast Program is a federally subsidized program and your child(ren) may be eligible to receive free or reduced price meals.  WIC participants may be eligible for free or reduced price meals.  You and your child(ren) do not have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for free or reduced price meals.  If you wish to apply for meal benefits, please complete an application. Applications are available at elementary, middle, and outlying high schools, most local high schools, and at the main office of the Food Service Dept. at 6350 E. Tropical, Las Vegas, NV. For more information please call 1-800-819-7556.

Homeless, Runaway, and Migrant Children:  Contact the homeless advocate at your school or at 855-6683 to see if your child(ren) qualify if you have not been informed that they will receive free meals.

Military Housing Allowance:  If your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. All other allowances must be included in your gross income.

Confidentiality:  School officials use the information supplied on the application to decide if your child should receive free or reduced price meals.  This information can be released to other federal education programs and to state health and education programs.

Nondiscrimination Statement:  This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly.  In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.  To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington D.C.  20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD).  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Children with Disabilities:  If a child has been determined by a doctor to be disabled and the disability prevents the child from eating a regular school meal, the cafeteria manager will make doctor prescribed food substitutions at no extra charge.  If you believe your child needs substitutions because of a disability, please contact the cafeteria manager at the school your child attends.

Reapplication:  You may apply for benefits at any time during the school year.  If you are not eligible now, but have a decrease in household income, become unemployed or have an increase in family size, fill out an application at that time.

Verification:  Your eligibility may be checked at any time during the school year.  School officials may ask you to send documentation to prove that your child should receive free or reduced price meal benefits.

Fair Hearing:  If you do not agree with the district's decision on your application or the results of the verification, you may discuss it with district officials.  You have a right to ask for a fair hearing.  You may do this by calling 799-8123 or writing to the Director of Food Services, 6350 E. Tropical Pkwy., Las Vegas, Nevada  89115.

How to Apply for Meal Benefits:  Complete the FAMILY Application for Meal Benefits, sign and return it to the school cafeteria manager or mail to 6350 E. Tropical Pkwy., Las Vegas, Nevada  89115.  Benefits will begin when the application is processed in the Main Office of Food Service. Applications will be given to the child at the beginning of the school year . However, should you need a another application, you can pick one up from the cafeteria manager at your child's school.

Privacy Act Statement:  This explains how we will use the information you give us.  The Richard B. Russel National Lunch Act requires the information on this application.  You do not have to give the information, but if you do not, we cannot approve your child for free or reduced price meals.  You must include the social security number of the adult household member who signs the application.  The social security number is not required when you apply on behalf of a foster child or you list a Food Stamp Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) case number or other FDPIR identifier for your child or when you indicate that the adult household member signing the application does not have a social security number.  We will use your information to determine if your child is eligible for free or reduced price meals, and for administration and enforcement of the lunch and breakfast programs.  We MAY share your eligibility information with education, health, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program reviews, and law enforcement officials to help them look into violations of program rules.

1.  How do the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program work?

School districts that choose to participate in the meal programs receive federal reimbursement and donated commodities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for each meal they serve.  In return, they must serve meals that meet Federal requirements, and they must offer free or reduced price meals to eligible children.

2.  What are the nutritional requirements for school meals?

The National School Lunch Act mandates that school meals "safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation's children".  Participating schools must serve lunches that are consistent with the applicable recommendations of the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans including: eat a variety of foods; choose a diet with plenty of grain products, vegetables and fruits; choose a diet moderate in sugars and salt; and choose a diet with 30% or less of calories from fat and less than 10% of calories from saturated fat.  In addition, lunches must provide, on average over each school week, at least 1/3 of the daily Recommended Dietary Allowances for protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C.  The choice of what specific foods are served and how they are prepared and presented are made by local schools.  

3.  How do children qualify for free and reduced-price meals?

Any child at a participating school may purchase a meal through the National School Lunch/School Breakfast Program.  Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals.  Those with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals.

4.  How does a child apply for free or reduced school lunch benefits?

A family application for meal benefits is provided to all students at participating schools.  Only one application is needed per household, except for foster children.  The application must be legible and filled out completely in order to be processed. Please complete the application in black ink and return it to the school kitchen manager or mail to Food Service Department, 6350 E. Tropical Pkwy., Las Vegas, NV 89115.