Dear County Superintendents of Schools:

Apportionment for the Ultraprocessed Foods in Schools Study

Purpose of Funds

The purpose of these funds is to study the presence of ultraprocessed foods of concern and restricted school foods in school meals and competitive foods at a minimum of 50 schools in California as well as to assess those present on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) commodities list. This will be achieved through a contract between the Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) and the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources' Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI).

These funds will support the NPI to develop a list of ultraprocessed foods of concern and restricted school foods; the NPI shall determine this listing by consulting recent, peer-reviewed research as well as including those identified by California’s Department of Public Health (CDPH). Also, at least three times during the performance period, the NPI will report the prevalence of these food additives, and associated ultraprocessed foods of concern and restricted school foods and beverages in: 1) public school breakfast, snack, and lunch menus;, 2) in competitive foods; and, 3) in foods provided through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foods in Schools commodities program in at least 50 local educational agency school sites, selected by the CDE. During the course of the performance period, the NPI shall monitor and report changes in the prevalence of these food additives, restricted schools foods, and ultraprocessed foods and beverages, as well as the prevalence of any newly identified items per the CDPH as a part of the reports submitted.

Expenditures

These funds are state General Fund monies. All expenditures must adhere to the Budget Act of 2025, Section 79, Chapter 8 (Senate Bill 147, Education Finance: Education Omnibus Budget Trailer Bill) and be considered reasonable and necessary.

At minimum, the MCOE must follow all applicable contracting and procurement processes and guidelines, which may include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting contracts and procurements in a manner that is compliant with the MCOE’s procurement procedures and that promotes full and open competition.
  
  
• Complying with the MCOE’s written standard (or code) of conduct that covers conflicts of interest, including organizational conflicts of interest, and governs the performance of employees engaged in the selection, award, and administration of contracts and purchases.
  
  
• Maintaining records sufficient to detail the history of the contract and procurement. These records will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price.
  
  
• Maintaining all contractor invoices and receipts.
  
  

Deliverables and Reporting

The MCOE is advised to retain all supporting documentation that demonstrates how these funds were expended. Deliverables include:

• Detailed project timeline and periodic progress reports
  
  
• Literature review identifying food additives of concern and the ultraprocessed foods and beverages that contain them
  
  
• Three legislative reports detailing study findings, analysis, and implications; each with an executive summary (Due: January 9, 2029, July 1, 2030, and July 1, 2032)
  
  

Project Period

The project period is December 1, 2025, to June 30, 2033.

Questions and More Information

A warrant will be mailed to the Marin County Treasurer. For standardized account code structure coding, use:

• Resource Code 7810
• Revenue Object Code 8520 for Child Nutrition
• Project Cost Account (PCA) 25789

Links to this letter and the accompanying apportionment schedule are posted on the CDE’s Funding Results web page, accessed at https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/fr/.

If you have any questions regarding this apportionment, please contact Jackie Richardson, Associate Director of the Nutrition Services Division by phone 916-322-1563 or by email at JRichardson@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Ingrid Roberson, Deputy Superintendent
Opportunities for All Branch

IR:ms