We understand that some students who bring lunch from home may still want to have some school milk or something from the salad bar. It's understandable that the students (and parents) would be confused when there’s a charge for these items. Yes, school lunch is free for all district students this school year. However, by federal guidelines, a school meal must include at least three components to qualify as "free". 

The Boulder Valley School District’s Food Services has achieved an important milestone by introducing a daily dairy-free option to the school hot lunch menu. This significant change, implemented in response to years of community feedback, marks a major step toward greater food equity within the district. 

Last month, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service published a new ruling on school meal standards. We at BVSD know fueling kids with nutrition and whole foods is crucial to supporting their minds and growing bodies and we support the new standards, particularly those targeting sugar limits. BVSD Food Services participated in lobbying for stricter limits on high-sugar products in schools (milk, yogurt, and cereals) and are pleased to see these standards put into U.S. school food policy