2026 SUN Bucks Funds
The 2026 SUN Bucks Funding allocations provide eligible local educational agencies with funds to help support the work associated with Universal Benefits Applications (UBA)/SUN Bucks-compliant applications during the applicable SUN Bucks eligible.Overview
On December 29, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the Interim Final Rule: Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs
which codified the permanent SUN Bucks program into regulations. SUN Bucks helps families with eligible school-age children buy groceries during the summer months when kids might not have full access to school meals. In California, SUN Bucks is administered through a partnership between the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the California Department of Education (CDE). The CDSS is the lead agency implementing the program, in partnership with the CDE. Local educational agencies (LEA) play a critical role in the SUN Bucks eligibility determination process for students.
California’s 2026 SUN Bucks Plan of Operations and Management (POM) approved a 50/50 match of $8,272,925 million from the State of California’s General Fund and $8,272,925 from the USDA to the CDE to fund the collection, processing, and verification of UBAs/SUN Bucks-compliant applications for SUN Bucks eligibility purposes by LEAs participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast Program (SBP) through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2 (P2).
Eligibility
The 2026 SUN Bucks funds are only available to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools. Only LEAs that are a program sponsor of the NSLP or SBP with one or more site on the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2 (P2) are eligible to receive funding. A School Nutrition Program sponsor must have an approved written agreement with the CDE Nutrition Services Division (NSD), a valid Child Nutrition Information and Payment System identification number on file and be a fully approved sponsor at one point between July 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026, to be eligible for funding.
Funding is noncompetitive. LEAs must submit the relevant data to the CDE via the Education Data Collection System (EDCS) and the 2026 SUN Bucks UBA Processing and Verification report in Snap Survey to receive funds.
Guidelines
Timeline
| Date | Actions to Complete |
|---|---|
| April 30, 2026 | Submit 2026 SUN Bucks eligibility records from approved Universal Benefits Applications to Education Data Collection System (EDCS). |
| September 15, 2026 | Submit 2026 SUN Bucks UBA Processing and Verification Report in SNAP Survey. |
The EDCS submissions and 2026 SUN Bucks UBA Processing and Verification Report reserves noncompetitive funding for 2026 SUN Bucks funds. Funding allotments will be distributed directly to LEAs.
To receive the first apportionment, eligible LEAs must have submitted 2026 SUN Bucks eligibility records derived from approved UBAs to the EDCS on or before April 30, 2026. These records were used to determine the first apportionment based on the number of individual 2026 SUN Bucks eligibility records derived from UBAs collected and processed between July 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026.
To receive the second apportionment, eligible LEAs must submit the 2026 SUN Bucks UBA Processing and Verification Report via Snap Survey no later than September XX, 2026. These records will be used to affirm that the required verification of the three (3) percent sample of UBAs received between September 3, 2025, and April 1, 2026, was completed.
Funding
Funding Announcements
Funding Mechanism and Timelines
Funding Formulas
Tracking Funds
Accounting
Funding Announcements
Funding awards will be located on the CDE Funding Results web page.
Funding Mechanism and Timelines
Following the approval of the apportionment package, the CDE will release the first apportionments to LEAs, which will be based on the number of 2026 SUN Bucks records derived from approved UBA uploaded to Education Data Collection System (EDCS) by April 1, 2026.
Following the submittal of the 2026 SUN Bucks UBA Processing and Verification Report in SNAP Survey, the CDE will release the second apportionments to LEAs based on the number of UBAs verified as part of the required three (3) percent verification sample.
The CDE will disburse funds to the County Treasurer’s Offices. Please be sure that the address you enter into the opt-in registration is your physical address. If your LEA is a part of an agency with multiple locations, enter your physical address and not the address of the headquarters.
Entering any address other than your physical address will cause a delay in payment.
Funding Formulas
This is a noncompetitive, voluntary funding opportunity. Eligible LEAs may decline these funds altogether or may accept less than the total amount designated.
This funding must be used to cover costs associated with collecting, processing, and verifying UBAs, as well as uploading records from approved UBAs to the CDE via the EDCS.
Total Amount of Funds Available to Distribute: $16,545,850
The award amounts are calculated according to two categories:
- First Apportionment: The first apportionment will be based on the number of 2026 SUN Bucks records derived from approved UBA uploaded to EDCS by April 1, 2026, by each LEA.
- Second Apportionment: The second apportionment will be based on the number of UBAs verified as part of the required three (3) percent verification sample and reported to the CDE via the 2026 SUN Bucks UBA Processing and Verification Report. Note: The funding approaches provided in this section are only an estimate and amounts awarded may change based on data submitted by LEAs to the CDE. Actual award amounts will be posted on the CDE Funding Results web page.
Tracking Funds
LEAs should not obligate or expend funds until the funds have been received and deposited into the LEAs account. However, you are encouraged to begin to develop an internal plan and process to help prepare for these expenditures.
Accounting
The CDE has created a new standardized account code structure (SACS) resource code to help you record the 2026 SUN Bucks Funds. Please ensure the revenue is deposited into the agency’s general fund using the resource code below:
SACS Resource Code: 5336
Revenue Object Codes: 8220 and 8520
The resource code is now available in the SACS tables of valid code combinations. If you have questions about the accounting for these funds using the new resource code, please contact the School Fiscal Services Division at SACSINFO@cde.ca.gov.
Also note that indirect costs are not an allowable expense for the 2026 SN Bucks funds.
Allowable Expenses
SUN Bucks Funds–Allowable Expenses
SUN Bucks administrative funds must only be utilized for the administration of the SUN Bucks program. Allowable uses for SUN Bucks administrative funds include:
- Developing a local Universal Benefits Application (UBA) using the CDE template
- Printing of SUN Bucks materials
- Translations of UBAs into languages spoken by local student populations
- Outreach to families to inform them of the SUN Bucks program and associated eligibility requirements
- Collection and processing of UBAs
- Notification to families of their SUN Bucks eligibility determination
- Handling of appeals for families who do not agree with their eligibility determination
- Updating Student Information Systems for SUN Bucks
- Submission of data to the CDE
- Verification activities specific to SUN Bucks
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which LEAs are eligible for 2026 SUN Bucks funds?
LEAs are eligible to receive 2026 SUN Bucks funds if they meet the following criteria:
- Participate in the NSLP and/or SBP,
- Have one or more sites operating the NSLP/SBP under the CEP or P2 non-base year,
- Submitted 2026 SUN Bucks eligibility records derived from approved UBA to the CDE via the Education Data Collection System (EDCS) on or before April 30, 2026, AND
- Submitted 2026 SUN Bucks verification data to the CDE via the 2026 SUN Bucks Processing and Verification Report in Snap Survey.
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Are LEAs that only collect NSLP meal applications eligible for 2026 SUN Bucks funds?
No, LEAs with all sites operating on Standard Counting and Claiming and/or P2 (base year) and collecting NSLP meal applications are not eligible for 2026 SUN Bucks funds. Only LEAs with one or more sites operating on the CEP or P2 non-base year.
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Do LEAs need to apply for 2026 SUN Bucks funds?
No, funds will be automatically disbursed based on 2026 SUN Bucks UBA records uploaded to Education Data Collection System (EDCS) on or before April 30, 2026, and data submitted by LEAs in the 2026 SUN Bucks Processing and Verification Report.
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Where should the 2026 SUN Bucks funds be deposited?
The CDE recommends depositing the funds into your LEA’s General Fund.
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Enter questions here.
Allowable expenses include:
- Developing a local UBA using the CDE template
- Printing of SUN Bucks materials
- Translations of UBAs into languages spoken by local student populations
- Outreach to families to inform them of the SUN Bucks program and associated eligibility requirements
- Collection and processing of UBAs
- Notification to families of their SUN Bucks eligibility determination
- Handling of appeals for families who do not agree with their eligibility determination
- Updating Student Information Systems for SUN Bucks
- Submission of data to the CDE
- Verification activities specific to SUN Bucks
Contacts
SUN Bucks Fund Questions
Submit questions regarding this funding to SummerEBT@cde.ca.gov.
SUN Bucks Program Questions
Submit general questions regarding the SUN Bucks program to SummerEBT@cde.ca.gov.
School Nutrition Program (SNP) Analysts
For general questions regarding the SNP, contact your SNP Analyst on the CDE SNP Specialist Directory web page.