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Allergy and Dietary Needs

The following outlines Great Valley School District Food & Nutrition Services’ process for accommodating students with disabilities and special dietary needs:

  • It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to communicate all food allergies to the school nurse. The Food & Nutrition Services dietitian records the allergens and creates an alert in the Point of Sale system so that an alert is indicated during each transaction in the cafeteria.
  • Parents/guardians may contact Great Valley School District Food & Nutrition Services to discuss modifications for their students on a case-by-case basis when requests are supported by a written statement from a state licensed medical authority.

Medical Plan of Care for School Food Service

The Medical Plan of Care for School Food Service may be used to obtain the required information from the licensed medical authority. For this purpose, a state licensed medical authority in Pennsylvania includes:

  • Physician,
  • Physician assistant,
  • Certified registered nurse practitioner, or
  • An explanation of how a child's physical or mental impairment restricts the child's diet;
  • An explanation of what must be done to accommodate the child; and
  • The food or foods to be omitted and recommended alternatives, if appropriate.

Special Dietary Needs

  • School food service staff may make food substitutions for individual children who do not have a medical statement on file. Such determinations are made on a case-by-case basis and all accommodations must be made according to USDA's meal pattern requirements. Schools are encouraged, but not required, to have documentation on file when making menu modifications within the meal pattern.
  • Special dietary needs and requests, including those related to general health concerns, personal preferences, and moral or religious convictions, are not disabilities and are optional for school food authorities to accommodate. Meal modifications for non-disability reasons are reimbursable provided that these meals adhere to program regulations.