Child Nutrition Home

Meals for all enrolled students, including breakfast and lunch, are at no cost for the school year. Tallassee City Schools will participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). No further action is required for parents and there is no need to submit a meal application. School meals will follow the USDA guidelines for healthy school meals with no discrimination because of race, sex, color, national origin, age, or disability.

CEP does not apply to adults and there is a charge for A la Carte purchases.

For more information please visit CEP Documents

Child Nutrition provides breakfast and lunch for all students every school day. All meals follow the menu pattern and nutritional guidelines established by the  United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Our participation in the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) provides breakfast and lunch at no cost for all students. Tallassee City Schools follows the traditional food-based menu pattern for all student meals in accordance with USDA regulations. In 2010 the federal Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act created the most intense changes in school nutrition in a generation. New requirements include increased emphasis on fruits and vegetables, with careful control of calories and saturated fat.

Breakfast components are milk, fruit/juice/vegetable, and grains. Every morning four items will be offered at breakfast and students must select at least three of the items, with one item being 1/2 cup fruit and/or vegetable. Students are encouraged to select all four items.

Lunch components are meat/meat alternate, fruit, vegetables, grains, and milk. Students must select, at a minimum, 1/2 cup serving of fruit and/or vegetables plus any two other full components. We encourage students to fill up on all five components for a healthy meal that will nourish them for classroom learning and physical activity.

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires all School Meal Program sponsors to collect race and ethnicity data of applications and participants. The purpose of this data collection effort is to determine how effectively School Meal Programs are reaching potentially eligible students. Responses have no effect on eligibility.

• The purpose for collecting race and ethnicity data is to determine how effectively School Meal Programs are reaching potentially eligible students,
• Provision of this data is voluntary,
• Responses are kept confidential, and
• Responses have no effect on eligibility.

YOU MUST SUBMIT A NEW DIET PRESCRIPTION FORM FOR YOUR CHILD EACH SCHOOL YEAR.

Special dietary needs will not be accommodated without a completed diet prescription form.

Children with Disabilities Requiring Special Meals

A person with a disability is one with a physical impairment or mental impairment that limits one or more major activities. Whenever a child is unable to eat or drink one or more of the required meal components, parents or guardians must submit to us a medical statement signed by a licensed physician.

A medical statement must identify the following:

1. The disability and an explanation of why the disability restricts the child's diet.
2. The major life activity affected by the disability.
3. The food or choice foods that must be omitted or substituted.
4. The physician's signature and contact information, should there be any questions.

Children with Special Dietary Needs

For participants with food allergies and food intolerances, we will make substitutions when supported by a statement signed by a recognized medical authority.

For non-disabled participants the supporting statement shall include:

1. An identification of the medical or other special dietary needs which restrict the child's diet.
2. The food or foods to be omitted from the participant's diet and the food or choice foods that may be substituted.

Send completed Medical Statements to your local School Nurse. Menus that meet the child's dietary prescription and/or texture modification will be developed.

Special Dietary Needs Documents

MEAL CHARGES POLICY

• No student second meals will be charged.
• No student a la carte items will be charged.
• No adult meals or adult a la carte items will be charged.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

• Daily pay at school - Cash or check
• Prepay at school – Cash or check
• Electronic payments – Online electronic check, debit card, credit card payments

How can I obtain a Free and Reduced Lunch Application?
While operating under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) we will not be accepting applications, as all students eat free.

How much do meals costs?
Meals at Tallassee City Schools for SY 2025-2026 are:

• All Students pay: $0 for Breakfast | $0 for Lunch.

• All Staff pay: $3.25 for Breakfast | $4.85 for Lunch.

• All Visitors pay: $3.50 for Breakfast | $5.00 for Lunch.

If I move, how can I request a refund of prepaid lunch funds?
You may request a refund by completing a Request for Refund for Prepaid Meals form.

The health inspection scores for Tallassee City Schools are as follows:

• Tallassee Elementary School - 100
• Southside Middle School - 100
• Tallassee High School - 100

Last inspection: 4/28/2026

The actual health inspection report is posted in each cafeteria.

Parents & Stakeholders – If you would like to participate in the development, review, update and/or implementation of the local school wellness program, please contact Carol Wright, CNP Coordinator at (334) 283-6864 or via email at carol.wright@tcschools.com. 

TCS Wellness Documents

Tallassee Elementary School – Yu Yu Smith (334) 283-5001 ext. 2003 yuyu.smith@tcschools.com

Southside Middle School – Carrie Lucas (334) 283-2151 ext. 1003 carrie.lucas@tcschools.com

Tallassee High School – Michelle Wallace (334) 283-2187 ext. 3003 michelle.wallace@tcschools.com