ATTENTION: Co-op Directors; Elementary Principals; High School Principals;
Middle School Principals; Secondary Principals; Superintendents; Child Nutrition
Directors; Child Nutrition Managers
Preschool meals are allowed to be
claimed for federal reimbursement through the School Breakfast Program (SBP)
and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) when school is in session and
students are receiving instruction.
Days of
operation for preschool students may be different than days of operation for
students attending grades Kindergarten – 12 if different calendars have been
adopted by the district. If the
preschool is open and providing instruction to students, meals may be claimed
for reimbursement to enrolled students through the Child Nutrition Unit.
When a
snack is provided after the school day ends and an instruction or enrichment
component is added, snacks may be claimed for reimbursement through the
Afterschool Snack Program (ASSP) which is an extension of the NSLP. If the preschool program operates one hour
longer than the traditional school day, snacks may be claimed in that expanded
learning time.
When claiming reimbursement for
meals through the SBP, NSLP, and ASSP, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
meal patterns must be followed. The
CACFP meal patterns are designed to meet the nutritional needs of preschool
aged children and are linked below for each meal:
Preschool students must be given
the opportunity to apply for these USDA meal programs through a free and
reduced meal application. If the district is a standard counting and claiming
school district, meals must be claimed based on each student eligibility status
of free, reduced, or paid. In some
instances, districts operating a special provision may apply claiming
percentages for these meals in addition to the meals claimed for K-12 students.
When operating standard counting
and claiming, if non-federal funds are available for meals of preschool
students, it is the responsibility of the district to ensure the reduced and
paid price are invoiced to the preschool and paid to the nonprofit food service
account. Districts also have the option
to charge the student for the meals. The
nonprofit food service account may not absorb these costs.
Districts may also consider
providing meals to preschool students through a meal contract. Districts should ensure that the full price
of the meal including food cost and labor is recouped when negotiating a price for
meals in the contract.
Districts may apply to receive
reimbursement for preschool meals through the annual Agreement and Policy
Statement.
For more information about how to
apply, please contact your Area Specialist or the CNU at 501-324-9502.