School districts and/or campuses that contract with the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Child Nutrition Program funds are required in the federal regulations to offer meals that meet specified menu planning criteria and to make those meals available to any student who meets specified eligibility criteria. The USDA offers federal subsidies for all reimbursable meals (meals that meet the USDA menu planning criteria) served to all students each school day.

The current rates of reimbursement for breakfast range from $.26 for meals served to full paying students to $1.35 for meals served to free eligible students. Through Severe Need Reimbursement, qualified campuses may also claim an additional $0.26 per free or reduced-priced breakfast served. The current reimbursement rates for lunch range from approximately $0.23 for lunches served to full paying students to $2.47 for lunches served to free eligible students.

Schools count each reimbursable breakfast and lunch served to students in their appropriate eligibility category, so a claim for federal dollars can be filed at the end of each month. Campuses who served 60% or more of their lunches, in the second preceding school year, to students eligible for free and reduced-priced lunches will qualify for an additional $0.02 per meals that is automatically added to their federal payment at the end of each month.

Schools can choose from a variety of methods in which to plan menus for students. These methods are as follows: Traditional Food-Based. This method is the same used throughout the history of the programs, but does require a school district to serve meals that meet specific nutrient criteria in addition to meeting the food component requirements. Schools using this menu planning method are not required to perform their own nutrient analysis, and, therefore, may not be aware of their actual compliance with the nutrient standard criteria. Enhanced Food-Based. This method is an enhanced version of the Traditional Food-Based menu planning method. The requirements are identical to those of the Traditional Food-Based menu planning method except that the food component requirements demand larger portions of fruits/vegetables and grain/breads in an effort to improve the overall fat content of the meal. Schools using this method of menu planning may also use up to one grain-based dessert to meet the grain/bread requirement each day. Nutrient Standard Menu Planning. This method of menu planning eliminates the food component requirements in specific portion sizes and replaces them with a requirement to serve an entrée, side dish, and fluid milk, at a minimum, for each school lunch. School breakfasts are to include a fluid milk and two (2) other items at a minimum. Schools choosing this menu planning method make their own determinations as to what food items fit the requirements. There are no specific portion sizes required. Schools using this method of menu planning are expected to meet the basic menu structure and the nutrient standard criteria. Schools using this menu planning method must perform, using a USDA-approved software program, their own nutrient analysis of breakfasts and lunches served in each school week. Assisted Nutrient Standard Menu Planning. The requirements of this menu planning method are the same as those for Nutrient Standard Menu Planning except that the school district contracts with an outside consultant to perform the nutrient analysis. Any other reasonable approach. This method was identified in legislation, but has not yet been defined in regulations. The new options for menu planning are intended to reflect the most current nutrition knowledge available and encourage a healthy lifestyle by today’s students—tomorrow’s adults. However, the programs are still agricultural support programs.

The USDA purchases commodity foods at a value of $0.2084 per school lunch served and donates those foods back to schools to use in their feeding programs. The commodity program purchases billions of dollars of agricultural products for the school lunch and breakfast programs. Furthermore, USDA cash subsidies to schools each month support market purchases from local markets and foodservice distributors. The After-School Snack Program component of the National School Lunch Program was authorized as a part of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 1998 passed by Congress in October, 1998. The program provides cash reimbursement to schools for eligible snacks served to students in eligible after-school care programs. There are many other requirements of school lunch and breakfast program contractors. If you have specific questions about the program at your child’s school, please contact your local school food service representative.