On July 7, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new reimbursement rates for the School Nutrition Programs (SNP) and Food Distribution Program (FDP).
School Nutrition Programs Federal Reimbursement Rates
Annual adjustments to the federal reimbursement rate for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) reflect changes in the Food Away From Home series of the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers. The annual rate adjustment for the School Milk Program reflects changes in the producer price index for consumer dairy products.
A document detailing the SNP reimbursement rates for the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 is available in the Download Child Nutrition Information and Payment System Forms, Form ID: SNP Reimbursement Rates section. A detailed breakdown of reimbursement rates can also be found on the California Department of Education (CDE) Child Nutrition Program (CNP). Meal Reimbursement Rates Webpage. Please note, these rates no longer include the temporary reimbursement allowed under the Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022, which provided an additional 40 cents per lunch and 15 cents per breakfast and has ended.
State meal reimbursement rate
Public schools, charter schools, and county offices of education that certify in accordance with California Education Code (THIS) Section 49430.7 is eligible for state meal reimbursement for each free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch served. The state Proposition (Prop) 98 meal reimbursement rate for SNPs increased from $0.8950 to $0.9686.
The California Universal Meals Program (UMP) began in the 2022-2023 school year (SY) for all public schools, charter schools, and county offices of education serving meals in accordance with THIS Section 49501.5. This law also authorized state reimbursement for reduced-price and paid meals. State reimbursements described in THIS Section 49501.5 is provided so that the combined total of state and federal meal reimbursement received for reduced-price and paid meals is equal to the total amount of reimbursement for that equivalent type of meal, less breakfast or lunch, and need, basic or severe. As a reminder, any public school, charter school, or county office of education not approved to operate both NSLP and SBP, not serving both breakfast and lunch each school day, or failing to operate in accordance with state and federal laws and guidelines. and school meal program regulations will not be eligible for Prop 98 or UMP reimbursement for meals served at the affected school site(s).
Detailed information on state reimbursement rates can also be found on the CDE CNP Meal Reimbursement Rates webpage linked above.
Prices for food distribution program meals
The USDA Foods effective per meal rate for the 2023-2024 school year is $0.3650.
The initial USDA Foods per meal base rate published for FY 2023-2024 is $0.2950, a decrease from the FY 2022-2023 base rate of $0.30. However, to comply with Section 6(e) of the National School Lunch Act, which requires that USDA foods make up at least 12 percent of total cash assistance for the NSLP, USDA added $0.07 at base rate. This translates to a USDA Foods effective rate per meal of $0.3650.
The Federal Register notice can be found at USDA Food Distribution Value of Food Advisories webpage
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Contact details
SNP: If you have any questions about this, please contact your SNP specialist. A list of SNP County Specialists is available at Directory of School Nutrition Program Specialists webpage.
PDF: If you have any questions about this, please contact Amy Bell, Child Nutrition Consultant, by phone at 916-322-5051 or by email at abell@cde.ca.gov.
Questions:
Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609
Last revised: Friday August 11, 2023
