Serving Afterschool Snacks

Definitions

Below are definitions and acronyms related to the ASP.

• 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (21^st CCLC)
• After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program
• After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs)
• After School Programs
• CACFP
• Community Based Organization (CBO)
• Eligibility
• Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P)
• Point of Service
• NSLP
• Vendors

*21^st Century Community Learning Centers (21^st CCLC): This state-administered, federally funded program provides five-year grant funding to establish or expand before-and after-school programs that provide transitional kindergarten through ninth grade students (particularly students who attend schools in need of improvement) with academic enrichment opportunities and supportive services to help the students meet state and local standards in core content areas. In California, the same federal funding stream that supports 21^st CCLC also funds After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) Program, which serves students in high school. California Education Code (EC) allows ninth grade students to be served in Junior High School settings only.

*After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program: The ASES Program funds the establishment of local after school education and enrichment programs. These programs are created through partnerships between schools and local community resources to provide literacy, academic enrichment and safe constructive alternatives for students in transitional kindergarten through ninth grade, at participating public elementary, middle, junior high, and charter schools. Note that EC allows ninth grade students to be served in Junior High School settings only. Funding is designed to: (1) maintain existing before- and after-school programs; and (2) provide eligibility to all elementary and middle schools that submit quality applications throughout California.

*After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs Program): The purpose of the 21^st CCLC ASSETs Program is to provide local flexibility in the establishment or expansion of community learning centers that provide students in grades nine through twelve with academic enrichment opportunities and activities designed to complement students’ regular academic programming and that support college and career readiness, to assist with literacy and related educational development services for families of these students, and to provide a safe environment for students participating in these programs.

After School Programs: Programs that give enrolled school-age children the nutrition they need, while engaging them in constructive activities that are safe, fun, and filled with opportunities for learning after the school day.

CACFP: The CACFP is a state and federally funded CNP designed to provide nutritious meals and snacks served to infants, children, and adults. CACFP providers are reimbursed for qualifying meals and snacks served. The goal of the program is to enhance participants’ health and well-being. The CDSS administers the program in California.

Community Based Organization or CBO: A public or private nonprofit organization that is representative of a community or a significant segment of a community and works to meet community needs.

Eligibility: Refers to how the afterschool program qualifies for funding and is reimbursed. Sites that are area eligible qualify by being located in a low-income area (50 percent free and reduced-price NSLP) and receive the highest rate of federal reimbursement for all snacks and meals served. Snacks served by sites that are not area eligible are reimbursed based on an individual child’s household income.

Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P): ELO-P provides state funding for afterschool and summer school enrichment programs for transitional kindergarten through sixth grade, as described in EC Section 46120. Local educational agencies (LEAs) receiving ELO-P funds must develop a program plan which needs approval from the LEA's Governing Board during a public meeting and then this plan must be posted on the LEA's website. Additional information on ELO-P funding and program requirements can be found on the ELO-P Frequently Asked Questions web page.

Point of Service: Point in the food service operation where a determination can accurately be made that a reimbursable free, reduced price, or paid meal or snack has been served to an eligible child.

NSLP: The NSLP assists schools and other agencies to provide nutritious lunches to children at reasonable prices. The NSLP was established by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 United States Code 1751 et seq.) and is administered federally by the USDA. The State of California, provides supplemental funding for qualifying school meals so that all students on campus during the school day may receive a lunch and a breakfast, at no cost to them; this program is often referred to as the Universal Meals Program.

Vendors: If kitchen facilities are not available on-site, programs usually contract with a vendor. Potential vendors include district school food service departments, community kitchens, food banks, hospitals, other nonprofit organizations, and for-profit companies.

*Reference the Apply tab for additional information.

Summary

This chart highlights key components of the NSLP ASP.

Key

*Refer to Definitions tab.

How to Apply

To apply for NSLP ASP visit the CDE School Nutrition Program Application Process web page or contact the School Nutrition Program Team by email at SNPInfo@cde.ca.gov.

After School Education and Safety Program or 21st Century Community Learning Centers

To apply for annual funding through the After School Education and Safety Program or the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, visit the CDE Funding Opportunities web page. For program questions, email the Expanded Learning Division at ExpandedLearning@cde.ca.gov.

NSLP Afterschool Snack Meal Pattern Requirements

The federal nutrition requirements for the NSLP ASP, when served to transitional kindergarten through twelfth grade (TK-12) children in California, must align with Title 7 Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR) sections 210.10(o)(2)(i), summarized below. In addition to the federal requirements, reference the chart above to determine which state-specific afterschool snack requirements also apply.

• NSLP afterschool snacks must include two of the five components (7 CFR 210.10(o)(2)).
  
  
  • Fluid milk;
    
    
  • Meats or meat alternates;
    
    
  • Fruits, or 100% juice;
    
    
  • Vegetables, or 100% juice; and
    
    
  • Grains.
    
    
• Note that larger portions may need to be served to children 13 through 18 to meet their nutritional needs. Portion sizes for various age groups can be found on the Meal Supplement Chart for Children in 7 CFR 210.10(o) .
  
  
• Only one of the two components served at snack may be a beverage.
  
  
  • Milk and juice may not be served as the only two items in a reimbursable snack.
    
    
• Fluid milk requirements must be pasteurized and meet State and local standards and follow the following age group requirements:
  
  
  • One (1) year old must be unflavored whole milk
    
    
  • Two (2) to 5 years old must be unflavored whole, reduced-fat (2 percent), low-fat (1 percent), or fat-free milk
    
    
  • Six (6) and older maybe unflavored and flavored whole, reduced-fat (2 percent), low-fat (1 percent), or fat-free milk;
    
    
  • Milk options may include lactose-free, lactose-reduced, cultured milk, acidified milk, and ultra-high temperature milk.
    
    
    • Note: One or more fluid milk substitutes for non-disability reasons may be offered; if offered, the fluid milk substitutes must provide, at a minimum, the nutrients and fortification guidelines listed in 7 CFR 210.10(d)(2)(ii) .
      
      
    • For information regarding fluid milk substitutes for disability and non-disability reasons, refer to Management Bulletin SNP-11-2026 Final Rule: Fluid Milk Substitutions and the Milk Requirements in the Child Nutrition Programs web page.
      
      
• Added sugars limits:
  
  
  • Breakfast cereals must contain 6 g or less of added sugar per dry oz and
    
    
  • Yogurt must contain 12 g or less of added sugars per 6 oz (2 g per oz).
    
    
• Fruits and Vegetables:
  
  
  • No more than half of the of the weekly fruit or vegetable offering may be in the form of juice.
    
    
  • Pasteurized, full-strength vegetable or fruit juice may be used to fulfill the entire requirement. Vegetable juice or fruit juice may only be served at one meal, including snack, per day (7 CFR 210.10 (o)(2)(ii)).
    
    
• Grains Whole-grains
  
  
  • At least 80 percent of grains offered weekly (by ounce equivalents) must be whole grain-rich (WGR) and the remaining grains items offered must be enriched.
    
    
  • Grain-based desserts may not be used to meet the grains requirement.

State Food Additive Restrictions

Snacks served as a part of after school programs must also adhere to applicable state and local regulations. Beginning January 1, 2027, the manufacture, sale, or provision (delivering, distribution, holding, and offering) of food products in California that contain brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye number 3 is prohibited (Health and Safety Code Section 109025).

Claiming and Reimbursement

To receive reimbursement, Program Operators participating in a Child Nutrition Program (CNP) must submit a claim.

• To submit an electronic claim, visit the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) website. The CNIPS is the online system for administering claim reimbursement for all CNPs.
  
  
  • All claims must be submitted within 60 days after the month served. For example: A claim for the month of June (June 1–30) must be submitted by August 29 (60 days after the last day of June).
    
    
• For the CNP annual reimbursement rates, visit the CDE Rates, Eligibility Scales, and Funding web page.

Other considerations regarding claiming and reimbursement.

• Prior to submitting a Claim for Reimbursement, the CDE must approve the school food authority’s or organization’s application to provide after school snacks.
  
  
• NSLP Program Operators must submit monthly Afterschool Snack Program counts as part of their regular monthly claim for the lunch and/or breakfast program.
  
  
• Only one reimbursable afterschool snack can be claimed per child per day.
  
  
• Accurate meal count and attendance records must be maintained.
  
  
• For sites that are not area eligible, free and reduced-price applications for all children for whom free and reduced priced snacks are claimed must be maintained.
  

Policy Guidance

The following federal and state policy guidance has been issued to guide participation in NSLP Afterschool Snack Programs.

NSLP Afterschool Snack Program

Release Date	Topic	Subject	Reference Number
June 2026	Expanding Fluid Milk Options in Child Nutrition Programs	Updates fluid milk options available in CNPs	SP-08-2026, CACFP 04-2026
September 2026	Nutrition Requirements	Updates to School Nutrition Program Standards	SNP-08-2026; SFSP-02-2026
January 2014	Afterschool	Assembly Bill 626—Afterschool Meals	SNP-05-2014
January 2011	Afterschool	Eligibility of Expanded Learning Time Programs for Afterschool Snack Service in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)	SP 04-2011, CACFP 01-2011-Revised
January 1999	Afterschool	Reimbursement for Snacks in After School Care Programs	SP99-4, CACFP 99-4

To access all School Nutrition Programs Management Bulletins (MB), visit the CDE School Nutrition Programs MBs web page.

Resources

Below are program specific resources and enrichment ideas for the NSLP ASP. For NSLP ASP, educational or enrichment activities must be open to all children in an organized, structured, and supervised environment. Examples include, but are not limited to: nutrition lessons, homework assistance, cooking in the classroom, supervised drop-in athletic programs, arts and crafts, life skills, and organized fitness activities.

• NSLP ASP
• 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (21^stCCLC) and After School Education and Safety (ASES) Programs
• Enrichment Ideas
• Others
  

NSLP Afterschool Snack Program

Resource	Description
USDA Final Rule for Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans	Provides a summary of the Final Rule updates specific to NSLP ASP (see page 47) and includes a comparison table of old and new NSLP After School Snack requirements (see page 49).
CDE Meal Supplements (Snacks) Under the NSLP web page	Provides information about sponsoring after school snacks under the NSLP.

21^stCCLC and ASES Programs

Enrichment Ideas

Resource	Description
CDE Child Nutrition Programs Resource Library web page	Contains resources and additional resource databases that can be used to develop enrichment activities including nutrition education, cooking in the classroom, recipes, and more.
USDA Team Nutrition Education Materials	Information about the USDA’s Team Nutrition Initiative that provides free nutrition education materials created for children participating in the CNPs. Team Nutrition offers a variety of online games, books, stickers, recipes, and nutrition education activities for children.
CDE California Farm to School Nutrition Programs web page	Provides a variety of resources to assist CNPs in implementing a farm to school program including information on training, finding farms, food safety on farms, local procurement, compliance, nutrition, and agriculture-based education.
CDE Straw Bale Gardening in CNPs online course	Provides step-by-step instructions for creating and maintaining a straw bale garden.
California After School Resource Center web page	Offers online courses and resources on healthy snacks, nutrition education, physical activity, and related workshop opportunities.

Others

Resource	Description
Food Research and Action Center Afterschool Nutrition Standards of Excellence (PDF)	Provides information on how to implement the Afterschool Nutrition Standards of Excellence. The primary goal of implementing the Afterschool Nutrition Standards of Excellence is to increase the quality of food served while improving the program’s environment in order for hungry children to receive nutritious snacks and meals after school in an atmosphere that promotes healthy lifestyle choices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

For a list of afterschool meal FAQs for NSLP ASP, visit the USDA NSLP Afterschool Meals web page .

Contacts

California Department of Education

National School Lunch Program Afterschool Snacks.
For questions and to apply for the NSLP Afterschool Snacks, contact the School Nutrition Program Team by email at SNPInfo@cde.ca.gov.

Summer Food Service Program
For questions and to apply for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), contact the SFSP Team by email at SFSP@cde.ca.gov.

Expanded Learning Opportunities Program

For questions and to apply for After School Education and Safety Program, After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens, or the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, contact the Expanded Learning Division at ExpandedLearning@cde.ca.gov.

California Department of Social Services

Child and Adult Food Care Program
The CDSS administers the CACFP At-risk Afterschool Meals Program and CACFP Outside-School-Hours Care. The CACFP programs can complement meal service in a childcare and afterschool setting. For more information, visit the CDSS CACFP web page or email CACFPInfo@dss.ca.gov.