At Capital City, we believe strong bodies lead to strong minds and recognize the connection between a healthy lifestyle and success in school. That’s why nutrition and wellness are emphasized across all grades. From our nutritious, comprehensive meals program to fun, age-appropriate activities such as working in our on-site school garden or taking an after-school cooking class, all students develop healthy eating habits and learn about the importance of living an active lifestyle.
All food and beverages served at school meet the nutrition recommendations of:
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Capital City traditionally participates in the The National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The NSLP is a federally assisted meal program operating in public, charter, non-profit and private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children who qualify each school day. Read this packet sent home to families.
Capital City Public Charter School requires each household to have a school lunch application on file for the current school year. Please complete your application at www.payschoolscentral.com.
Families that do not want to apply for Free and Reduced Meals must complete the Refusal of Benefits Form. The form may be returned by email to foodservice@ccpcs.org, by regular mail to Food Service, Capital City Public Charter School, 100 Peabody Street NW, Washington, DC 20011, or hand-delivered to our front door.
Online, you will receive instant notification of your student’s eligibility for free or reduced lunches. Under the NSLP, if your household qualifies for free or reduced meals, your student(s) will be eligible to receive school lunches free of cost. Families that do not qualify for free or reduced meals must pay for any lunches taken by their student(s) under the NSLP. If you believe there is an error with the status of your application, please contact Capital City’s Director of Operations, Ms. Aisha Hassan, at ahassan@ccpcs.org or 202-808-9717.
Dietary Accommodations Policy
Students with special dietary needs should submit a Medical Statement to Request Dietary Accommodations (download form here) to their school’s Nutrition Program Manager each school year. The request must be signed by both a licensed medical provider and a parent/legal guardian. This form should only be used by students requiring dietary accommodations for medical reasons. For students who do not have a dietary disability, Capital City may, but is not required to, make food substitutions. Completed forms must be received before accommodations can be met. Any incomplete or unsigned forms will not be processed.
Distinguishing Severity of Food Allergy: The Medical Statement to Request Dietary Accommodations must state that your student has been diagnosed by a doctor with either food anaphylaxis (severe food allergy) or a food intolerance.
Food Preferences Policy: Capital City will determine whether we are able to accommodate food preferences that are not medically required. Such accommodations are not guaranteed.
- Vegetarian options are always available for lunch in all grades (PK-12). If your student would like vegetarian options for breakfast and lunch, please indicate that on the meal sign up form. The meal sign up form will be provided to families in a separate mailing.
- Capital City provides both fat free and 1% milk at all meals. Soy or other milks are only available to students who submit a Medical Statement to Request Dietary Accommodations signed by a doctor. Please note that there have been nationwide shortages of soy milk for the 2021-2022 school year and Capital City can not guarantee that soy milk will be available.
- It is the responsibility of the parent/legal guardian to provide current information on the medical and/or nutritional needs of the student, submitting new forms as needed.
- Parents/legal guardians are encouraged to keep a copy of the form that they submit in case a follow up is necessary.
- It can take 3-4 weeks from the time forms are received for accommodations to be made. Please plan accordingly during this time.
- All school meals are tree nut and peanut free.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508- 0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
(2) fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Also, the District of Columbia Human Rights Act, approved December 13, 1977 (DC law 2-38; DC official code §2-1402.11(2006), as amended) states the following:
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice to do any of the following acts, wholly or partially for a discriminatory reason based upon the actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, or political affiliation of any individual. To file a complaint alleging discrimination on one of these bases, please contact the District of Columbia's Office of Human Rights at (202) 727-4559 or ohr@dc.gov.