LA PLATA, Md. — Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is working to support families in managing student meal balances as outstanding debts continue to grow. Currently, more than 1,300 students have a balance exceeding $100, and nearly 250 students owe more than $200. The district is urging families to stay informed and take action to avoid further accumulation.
Negative balances most often occur when families do not apply for free or reduced-price meals or when eligibility from the previous year expires. Since the end of COVID-era funding, unpaid meal balances have risen, reaching $353,000 at the end of last school year.
To help families manage accounts, CCPS regularly sends reminders via email and phone calls. School principals have also suggested additional steps to address unpaid balances, including:
- Providing school principals with weekly lists of negative accounts so staff can contact families directly.
- Supplying schools with a summary of how unpaid balances impact school budgets.
However, some proposed measures are not permitted by law. Board Member Dottery Butler-Washington suggested holding diplomas for students with unpaid balances, but the board clarified that such an action is not allowed under current regulations.
How Families Can Manage Meal Accounts
- Apply for Free or Reduced-Price Meals – Applications are available year-round and can be accessed through your child’s school or the district website.
- Set Up a Payment Plan – Schools can work with families to create manageable repayment options.
- Use MySchoolBucks – This online system allows families to add funds, set up automatic payments, and receive low-balance alerts.
- Pack a Lunch from Home – Students always have the option to bring meals from home, with à la carte items available for purchase.
To further support families, CCPS is launching a social media campaign to provide reminders, meal ideas, and information about available assistance.
The district remains committed to ensuring no student goes without a meal due to financial hardship. “We will gladly provide you with a free lunch. Just fill the paperwork out,” said Board Member David Hancock.
For more information or to apply for meal assistance, visit the CCPS website or contact your child’s school.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
Stop giving away food. You can’t go to WaWa or RoFo and get a free meal.
Use the cannabis tax money to support these young families. I don’t have kids, but I was a kid once. Those that struggled then – at no fault of their own – are the same people struggling around me now. They shouldn’t be worried about eating at school – teachers shouldn’t be “collecting” for the school. Put the money where it should go and pivot the focus back on education. It’s not even a political thing, we’re setting our future up for failure over debts for frozen subpar lunch meals. Let’s start preventing shit instead of paying forever for failures.
One would think that the highest priority for our elected representatives, would be the youth of Maryland. Educate and help feed them and quit wasting our tax dollars on pet projects, agendas, commissions and pocket padding.