On July 7, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the new reimbursement rates for the School Nutrition Programs (SNP) and the Food Distribution Program (FDP).
School Nutrition Programs Federal Reimbursement Rates
The annual federal reimbursement rate adjustments for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and 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 Fluid Milk Products.
A document detailing the SNP reimbursement rates for July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, is available in the Download Forms section of the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System, Form ID: SNP Reimbursement Rates. A detailed breakdown of the reimbursement rates can also be found on the California Department of Education (CDE) Child Nutrition Program (CNP) Meal Reimbursement Rates web page. Please note, these rates no longer include the temporary reimbursement authorized 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 Rates
Public schools, charter schools, and county offices of education that certify in accordance with California Education Code (EC) Section 49430.7 are eligible for state meal reimbursement for each free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch served. The Proposition (Prop) 98 state meal reimbursement rate for SNPs has increased from $0.8950 to $0.9686.
The California Universal Meals Program (UMP) began in school year (SY) 2022–23 for all public schools, charter schools, and county offices of education serving meals in accordance with EC Section 49501.5. This statute also authorized state reimbursement for reduced-price and paid meals. State reimbursements described in EC Section 49501.5 are provided such that the combined total of state and federal meal reimbursement received for reduced-price and paid meals equals the full reimbursement amount for that equivalent meal type, breakfast or lunch, and need, basic or severe. As a reminder, any public school, charter school, or county office of education site not approved to operate both the NSLP and SBP, not serving both breakfast and lunch each school day, or not operating in compliance with state and federal laws, and guidance and regulations for school meal programs will not be eligible for Prop 98 or UMP state reimbursement for any meals served at the applicable school site(s).
Detailed information on the state reimbursement rates can also be found on the CDE CNP Meal Reimbursement Rates web page linked above.
Food Distribution Program Meal Rate
The effective USDA Foods per meal rate for SY 2023–24 is $0.3650.
The USDA Foods initial base per meal rate published for SY 2023–24 is $0.2950, a decrease from the $0.30 base rate in SY 2022–23. However, to comply with Section 6(e) of the National School Lunch Act, which requires that USDA Foods account for at least 12 percent of the total cash assistance for the NSLP, the USDA added $0.07 to the base rate. This results in an effective USDA Foods per meal rate of $0.3650.
The Federal Register notice can be viewed on the USDA Food Distribution Value of Donated Food Notices web page
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Contact Information
SNP: If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact your SNP Specialist. A list of SNP County Specialists is available on the School Nutrition Programs Specialist Directory web page.
FDP: If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact Amy Bell, Child Nutrition Consultant, by phone at 916-322-5051 or by email at abell@cde.ca.gov.