Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Webinar: Universal Meals Listening Session #2

Information about requirements and best practices for implementing the California Universal Meals Program in school year 2022–23.

On November 2, 2021, the California Department of Education (CDE) hosted its second Universal Meals Listening Session webinar for school food service operators, chief business officials, and community partners, providing an opportunity for schools and community partners to learn more about the California Universal Meals Program.

The webinar included an introduction from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond, provided an overview of Universal Meals, answered frequently asked questions, and featured presentations from three advocacy groups who discussed innovative ideas for minimizing food waste, the importance of breakfast, and strategies for maximizing identified student percentages used in the federal Community Eligibility Provision.


To view additional Universal Meals Listening sessions, go to the California Universal Meals web page and select the Resources tab.

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding this subject, please email SNPInfo@cde.ca.gov.

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Thursday, August 14, 2025
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 (added 30-Jan-2026)
    Key updates to the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 such as fluid milk requirements, fluid milk substitutes, and dietary specifications for saturated fat.
  • Competitive Foods Webinar Series 2026 (added 26-Jan-2026)
    Competitive Foods Webinar Series 2026 will consist of five webinar trainings in February 2026.
  • Non-congregate Meal Service Options in Rural Areas (added 26-Jan-2026)
    Provides guidance on rural non-congregate meal service options in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO), collectively referred to as the Summer Meal Programs (SMP). This MB supersedes MB.
  • Non-congregate Meal Service Options in Rural Areas (added 22-Jan-2026)
    This management bulletin provides guidance on non-congregate meal service options in rural areas in the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option.
  • Civil Rights and Program Complaints (added 22-Jan-2026)
    Information about filing a complaint for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs (CNP).