Unpaid Meal Charges

• USDA Unpaid Meal Charges Webpage
• Donations Guidance

• Addressing Unpaid Meal Charges
• Best Practices Guide: Overcoming the Unpaid Meal Challenge: Proven Strategies from Our Nation’s Schools, for tips on developing an effective meal charge policy.

• Local Meal Charge Policy Considerations for All SFAs
• Local Meal Charge Policy Communication Requirements for All SFAs

• Alternate Meal Policy Considerations for SFAs Opting to Provide Alternate Meals
• Recommended Topics for Delinquent/Bad Debt Policies

Colorado Unclaimed Property Memo (PDF) 

Colorado Unclaimed Property Website 

• SP23-2017 Unpaid Meal Charges:  Guidance and Q&As - revised SP 57-2016  (PDF)(3/23/2017)
• SP 29-2017s (replaces SP58-2016) Overcoming the Unpaid Meal Challenge - Memo
  • Proven strategies from our nation's schools
• SP 29-2017a1 (replaces SP58-2016) 2017 Edition:  Overcoming the Unpaid Meal Challenge:  Proven Strategies from Our Nation's Schools - Guidance
  • Highlights best practices, policy considerations, sample communication materials, policy checklist

• SP 57-2016 Unpaid Meal Charges:  Guidance and Q&A
  • Overview of policies related to unpaid meal charges and addresses questions from state agencies, school food authorities and local program operators
• SP 47-2016  Unpaid Meal Charges:  Clarification on Collection of Delinquent Meal Payments
  • Delinquent Debt vs. Bad Debt
• SP 46-2016  Unpaid Meal Charges:  Local Meal Charge Policies
  • All SFAs are required to have a Meal Charge Policy in place by July 1, 2017