FAQ

In August 2023, Governor Josh Shapiro approved the 2023/2024 State Budget, which provides benefits to schools that are enrolled in the School Breakfast Program (SBP) during the 2023/2024 school year.

For August 28, 2023 through June 5, 2026:

• Students in kindergarten through 8th grade will not be charged for breakfast. 
• Students in kindergarten through 8th grade who are eligible for reduced-price meal benefits will not be charged for lunches. 
• Students in grades 9 through 12 will continue to be charged for breakfast and lunches.

To see pricing and our offerings, view our school menus!

Learn all about PaySchools Central where you can pay for student lunches.

PaySchools Central

Absolutely not! Our team will always offer a number of different meal options to every student to ensure they have the opportunity to eat during the school day.

Our High Schools do not participate in the National School Breakfast or Lunch Programs. This means that while they don't receive Federal or State funds to subsidize the program, we're able to offer increased flexibility on menu options and portion sizes! View our Menus to see our current offerings!

Refund Procedures

• When requesting a refund, please print out the following application. Fill in application and a parent or guardians' signature is required before scanning or emailing it to Jessica Lehr at: jlehr@dasd.org  
• Refund-Application

Yes, placing an Elementary Lunch order is mandatory in order to provide the best possible service to our families!

We are only offering pre-ordering for Elementary Lunch meals at this time

Pre-orders are due by midnight the night before service. You can always order 1-3 weeks in advance of the days menu!

Your student's meal account will be charged when they bring their meal to our cashier during lunch. You can add funds to your account via PaySchools Central, or send cash or check to your student's school for our Manager to deposit on your account.

Email us at FoodServiceInformation@dasd.org!

The local Wellness Policy requirement is established by Section 204 of the Public Law 108 - 265, the Child Nutrition and WIC reauthorization Act of 2004. The law requires each Local Education Agency (LEA) participating in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program to develop a local wellness policy that promotes the health of students and addresses the problem of childhood obesity. The Wellness Policy must include measurable goals in the following areas:

• Goals for nutrition education
• Goals for physical activity
• Goals for other-school based activities designed to promote student wellness
• Nutrition guidelines for all foods and beverages available on school campuses during the school day with the objectives of promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity
• The goals set forth in the policy will establish regulations for a la carte foods, fundraisers, vending machines, classroom parties, and food used as rewards
• A plan for monitoring progress

No. If a family chooses to recognize their child’s birthday with their class, they may do so with a non-food item. Teachers and parents will be provided with non-food alternative birthday party suggestions for the classroom.  

School Wellness Policy 246: (Classroom parties and celebrations section for more information) 

Yes, however approval is given by your building principal. 

Yes, only if the nutritional standards of the NSLP are followed as well as smart snack guidelines. Also, principal approval must be given, as well as the following guidelines must be met: 

• Shall offer a minimal amount of foods (maximum 2-3 items) containing added sugar as the primary ingredient (e.g., cupcakes, cookies).  
• Classroom parties will provide the following:
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Water, 100% fruit juice or milk  

For more information refer to Policy 246: School Wellness.  

Yes, however approval is given by your building principal. It is encouraged to bring in healthier options like fresh fruits or vegetables, low sodium/fat products. 

Smart snacks refer to the national nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold outside of the federal reimbursable school meal programs during the school day. These snacks must meet certain nutritionary guidelines in order to qualify.

A Guide to Smart Snacks in School is available on the USDA.Gov site.
USDA.Gov PDF version of A Guide to Smart Snacks in School.

• Sun Chips, Garden Salsa – .875 oz.
• Pepperidge Farm WG Goldfish – .75 oz.
• Nabisco Teddy Bear Graham Minis – 1 oz.
• Rold Gold Pretzels – .7 oz.
• Kellogg’s WG Rice Krispie Treats – 1.41 oz.
• Quaker Snack Kids Mix – .875 oz.
• Land O Lakes String Cheese, Light Low Moisture, Part skim – 1 oz.
• Water – 8 oz.
• 100% Apple Juice – 4 oz.
• Milk, Fat Free or 1% Low Fat White – 8 oz.
• Oven Bakes Scoops - .875 oz.
• Salsa Thick and Chunky
• Fruit Snacks
• Fruit Roll Ups
• Raisins (small box)
• Chex cinnamon cereal bowl
• Rice Krispie cereal bowl

This is not a full list. If you would like to see if your snack is a smart snack, please fill out the smart snacks calculator or reach out to foodserviceinformation@dasd.org with questions. 

Alliance for a Healthier Generation: Smart Snacks in School
Smart Snacks in Schools Product Calculator

When possible, foods/beverages for parties and celebrations shall be provided by the food service department to help prevent food safety and allergy concerns. Please refer to our allergen policy (Serious Allergies Policy No. 209.1)  

In addition, the following items are ALLERGY FRIENDLY and suggested for classroom parties. Always check the food labels. Labels and ingredients do change. These items may be purchased from an outside food vendor:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Skinny Pop Popcorn (snack size)
• Raisins (original only) (individual snack size packages)
• Applesauce (individual serving) – suggestions: Gogo Squeeze, Motts Natural and Musselman’s Natural
• Fruit Snacks (Welch’s original)
• Wegman’s Organic Fruit Twists
• Bare Fruit Crisps (Available at most grocery stores)
• Brother’s All Natural Fruit Crisps
• Chex cereals – Cinnamon, Corn, Rice, Vanilla (individual servings) 

Yes. In order to ensure that it meets all current nutritional, meal benefit and confidentiality guidelines for the National School Lunch Program, it is suggested that the pizza be provided by the district’s current food service provider. You may purchase pizza from an outside vendor, but it must meet all nutritionary guidelines. 

Yes, however approval is given by your building principal. 

Yes, as long as the items offered still follow the “Classroom Parties/Holiday Celebrations” section of the Wellness Policy, which states that such activities will also provide the following:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Water, 100% fruit juice, or milk
• Meet smart snacks guidelines  

You can offer popsicles as the only item if 100% fruit juice popsicles are provided  

School Wellness Policy (Wellness Policy No. 246)
A Guide to Smart Snacks in School is available on the USDA.Gov site.
USDA.Gov PDF version of A Guide to Smart Snacks in School.

This does not apply to the High Schools and approval is given by your building principal. It is encouraged to bring in healthier options like fresh fruits or vegetables, low sodium/fat products. 

No, food will not be used as a reward for classroom or school activities unless the reward is an activity that promotes a positive nutrition message (i.e. guest chef, field trip to a farm or farmers market, etc.). 

This does not apply to the High Schools and approval is given by your building principal. It is encouraged to bring in healthier options like fresh fruits or vegetables, low sodium/fat products. 

Yes, food used as part of the curriculum is not prohibited, but healthy options are encouraged.  However, principal approval is required for curriculum-based food activities  

Yes, food used as part of the curriculum is not prohibited. Principal approval is required. 

If the IEP or 504 Plan addresses food consumption during the school day we are obligated to comply with those needs.   

Approval is only needed from principals if smart snacks and guidelines are being followed. However, if smart snacks and guidelines are not being followed then district approval is needed as well as from your principal. From there an exemption must be used (Exemption FAQ section has more information).

Food cannot be sold in food service areas/cafeterias during mealtimes.  

The following standards apply to all foods sold in school for the period from the midnight before, to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day:   Foods must:

• Be a “whole grain-rich” grain product; or
• Have as the first ingredient a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product, or a protein food; or
• Be a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup of fruit and/or vegetable; or
• Follow smart snack guidelines 

Foods must also contain all of the following nutrient requirements:  

• ° Snack items: ≤ 200 calories

• Snack items: ≤ 200 mg  

• Total fat: ≤35% of calories
• Saturated fat: < 10% of calories
• Trans fat: zero grams  

• ≤ 35% of weight from total sugars in foods  

1. Log on to our ticketing system: Fresh Status
2. Either Login or Sign up
3. Select "Business Office"
4. Select "Student Food Related Fundraiser Request"
5. Fill out the form and submit.
6. Someone will get back to you.

A Guide to Smart Snacks in School is available on the USDA.Gov site.
USDA.Gov PDF version of A Guide to Smart Snacks in School.

Principal approval is needed. There are no restrictions, except for no food being sold in food service areas and healthy options are encouraged for the foods that are sold. 

All shared classroom snacks must adhere to the Smart Snacks nutritional guidelines. Food that doesn’t meet the Smart Snacks nutritional guidelines is permitted if it is part of the curriculum or when deemed needed as part of an IEP or 504 plan. Parents/Guardians shall be informed through newsletters or other efficient communication methods. 

A Guide to Smart Snacks in School is available on the USDA.Gov site.
USDA.Gov PDF version of A Guide to Smart Snacks in School.

If your party or fundraiser do not meet the nutritional requirements or happens during the school day, please fill out the Food Exemption form. Elementary and Middle schools get 5 fundraiser exemptions per building per school year. The High School is not included, and approval is up to the building principal. A fundraiser can last up to 5 consecutive days (1 school week) and still count as one exemption.  Please put in an exemption for review at least two weeks before the date of your fundraiser. 

1. Log on to our ticketing system: Fresh Status
2. Either Login or Sign up
3. Select "Business Office"
4. Select "Student Food Related Fundraiser Request"
5. Fill out the form and submit.
6. Someone will get back to you.

• Having a fundraiser and selling soft pretzels during lunch
• A bake sale that sells cupcakes and cookies throughout the school day.
• Selling Doritos (regular) and Cheetos (regular) for a fundraiser
• Selling pizza slices during the school day from a local pizza shop 

If you are not sure if the exemption applies to you, please reach out to our foodservice team: (foodserviceinformation@dasd.org)  

To request a Food Exemption from the Business Office:

1. Log on to our ticketing system: Fresh Status
2. Either Login or Sign up
3. Select "Business Office"
4. Select "Student Food Related Fundraiser Request"
5. Fill out the form and submit.
6. Someone will get back to you.

The Downingtown Area School District Student Wellness Policy, Nutrition Guidelines, and supplementary resources related to nutrition and physical activity will be available to school personnel and parents through the building principal and on the DASD website.  

Full Student Wellness policy: Student Wellness Policy No. 246   

Parents will receive a letter by email notifying them of the application outcome. Please be sure to check your junk mail folder in case it is caught accidentally and flagged as junk. If an email was not provided, a letter will be mailed to the address given on the application.  

Downingtown Area School District has up to 10 working days from the day your application is received. However, if you fill out your free and reduced application form online, it usually takes much less time. Instructions are provided on both the paper application and online version, but you can call 610-269-4400 Ext. 11755 if you have any questions.  

In accordance with the Department of Agriculture’s policy as provided in the Food and Nutrition Service publication Eligibility Guidance for School Meals Manual, “income,” as the term is used in this Notice, means income before any taxes, Social Security taxes, insurance premiums, charitable contributions, and bonds. It includes the following:  

Monetary compensation for services, including wages, salary, commissions or fees  

Net income from non-farm self-employment  

Net income from farm self–employment  

Social security Dividends or interest on savings or bonds or income from estates or trusts  

Net rental income  

Public assistance or welfare payments  

Unemployment compensation  

Government or civilian employee or military retirement, or pensions or veterans payments  

Private pensions or annuities  

Alimony or child support payments  

Regular contributions from persons not living in the household  

Net royalties  

Other cash income; includes cash amounts received or withdrawn from any source including savings, investments, trust accounts and other resources that would be available to pay the price of a child’s meal.  

Students who are in the Free & Reduced Meal program are permitted to choose all the food options that come with a combo meal. This includes a hot or cold entrée with any fruits, vegetables, and/or a 4 oz. fruit juice available that day. Milk is optional. A la carte items are available to be purchased separately and are not included with the student’s meal benefits.

DASD k-8 ALC prices  2025-2026

DASD HS ALC prices   2025-2026

Please call us at 610-269-4400 Ext. 11755. We can answer any questions you may have about filling out the application form or any other questions throughout the process.