Dietary Accommodations
Dietary Accommodations will be made for students according to federal law and USDA regulations that require school meal programs to make reasonable modifications to accommodate children with disabilities. Under the law, a disability is an impairment which substantially limits a major life activity or bodily function. Requests must be medically necessary and are made on a case-by-case basis. This can include allergies and digestive conditions. Personal dietary preferences do not meet menu modification criteria.
Requests Must:
- Be medically necessary
- Be signed by a State-Recognized Medical Authority (RMA)*
- Indicate the food(s) to be omitted/avoided from the student’s diet
- Describe how ingestion of the food impacts the student
- Specifies the food(s) to be substituted/served instead
How to Submit a Request: Have the Health Care Provider (RMA)* complete the “Request for Dietary Accommodations” form and submit this form to the office or heath room at your student’s school.
What if my student’s dietary needs change? Special dietary accommodations are valid for the duration of enrollment. However, if your student’s dietary needs change, an updated request for special dietary accommodations must be submitted. If a student no longer requires a special diet, documentation from the student’s health care provider (RMA)* must be provided for Child Nutrition Services to liberalize the student’s diet.
*A Recognized Medical Authority (RMA) includes a Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Physician’s Assistant (PA) with prescriptive authority, Naturopathic Physician and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP)