Give today to support Austin ISD Food Service

Austin ISD Food Service is committed to providing healthy food access for all students. Our charging and courtesy meal policies are in place to ensure no student goes without a balanced meal, regardless of their account balance or payment status. This initiative allows members of the community to contribute funds to help cover the negative balance of student meal accounts.

Our Goal

The mission of Austin ISD Food Service is to support the achievement of all students by expanding food access, serving healthy, tasty meals, and providing learning opportunities about nutrition, cultural foodways and the food system.  Equity is an important district value, and being able to bring fresh, healthy, and sustainable foods to all students throughout Austin is our focus.  At Austin ISD, we feed every student regardless of their ability to pay.  

This campaign allows individuals to contribute funds to help bring student meal accounts current.

How the Process Works

When a student exhausts their meal account, they may charge meals at breakfast and lunch.  Elementary and middle school students may charge up to three meals and high school students may charge up to two meals.  Once the student reaches their charge limit and the account is not replenished, the student shall receive a courtesy meal.  There is no limit to the number of courtesy meals a student may receive. We serve around 600 courtesy meals each day, which equates to a cost of over $350,000 each year.  Federal regulations prohibit the Food Service department from paying this debt; funding to cover this expense must come from the district’s general fund.

Students unable to pay are not identified in any way and may select the menued foods of their choice as their courtesy meal.  Food Service works with campuses to help encourage families who may be eligible to apply for free or reduced-price meals to help prevent future charges and courtesy meals.

Learn more about Austin ISD Food Service menus and meal programs.