The School Breakfast Program was established by federal law in 1966 and made permanent in 1975. The purpose of the program is to provide breakfast in schools to students who, for various reasons, come to school without an adequate breakfast and to increase the number of school breakfast programs by continually informing all schools without a breakfast program about the program’s availability.
Similar to the National School Lunch Program, any public or private nonprofit school or licensed residential school is eligible to benefit from the School Breakfast Program. School districts and residential schools may receive reimbursement for breakfasts provided to enrolled students at prescribed rates established each fiscal year for free, reduced-price, or full-price meals.
In 1995, the federal government implemented regulations requiring all school lunches and breakfasts to conform to the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The regulations established certain minimum standards for calories and key nutrients that meals must meet.
After School Snack Program (ASSP)
After-school snack programs are created to provide after-school snacks to children who attend organized after-school tutoring or instructional programs. After-school programs must provide regularly scheduled activities for children in a structured, supervised environment and must be run by schools that operate the National School Lunch Program.
Schools that participate in after-school snack programs may request reimbursement for one snack per child per day for participating children enrolled in a public school. Eligible after-school programs located in attendance zones on school grounds where at least 50 percent of enrolled students qualify for free or reduced-price meals may receive reimbursement for snacks provided to students at free or reduced-price. Eligible after-school programs located in attendance zones that do not meet the 50 percent free and reduced-price criteria may receive reimbursement for snacks provided to students at free, reduced, or full-price rates, as established each fiscal year.
In 1954, the Special Milk Program was implemented to encourage the consumption of liquid milk by selling milk to students at the lowest possible price and providing milk free of charge to students who were deemed eligible. From 1981 to 1986, the program was available only to schools and nonprofit child care homes that did not participate in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program. In 1986, the Special Milk Program was expanded to include split-session kindergarteners who could not participate in the breakfast or lunch programs because they were on a half-day schedule. The benefits of the program were also extended to students in preschool classes who could not participate in the breakfast or lunch programs because they were on a half-day schedule.
School districts with split-session kindergarten and preschool children who do not qualify for the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program may be reimbursed for milk provided to these children. Schools may choose to provide milk free of charge to eligible children based on family income, provide milk at a fixed price to all children, or provide milk free of charge to all children.
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
The Special Children’s Meals Service Program, enacted by Congress in 1968, is the predecessor to the Child Care Meals Program. Further legislation in 1975, 1978, 1981, and 1987 clarified, expanded, and made permanent the Child Care Meals Program. In 1989, the name was changed to the Child and Adult Care Meals Program (CACFP).
CACFPs are open to child care centers, adult day care centers, Head Start programs, and family day care homes. Eligible facilities include settlement homes, day care centers, organizations that provide day care services to individuals with disabilities and/or adults age 60 and older, and after-school care centers. Organizations that can sponsor a CACFP include state or local government agencies, nonprofit private organizations such as community action agencies and churches, and private for-profit organizations that sponsor Title XX and Title XIX centers. These organizations receive Title XX and Title XIX coverage for at least 25% of their enrolled participants or 25% of their licensed capacity, whichever is less.
Two types of assistance are available through the CACFP. The first is a cash reimbursement for meals and supplements that meet USDA dietary pattern requirements, but not to exceed three meals per child per day. The second assistance available through the program is in the form of items donated by the USDA. The items are provided to eligible participating agencies through the Oklahoma Department of Human Services’ Food and Nutrition Services Unit.
After-school meals at risk
The “After-school Meals for At-risk Children” component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides federal funding to after-school programs that provide meals or snacks to children in low-income areas. Reimbursement for after-school snacks for at-risk children has been available since the 1990s. However, reimbursement for after-school meals for at-risk children was only available in a few states. The Healthy Hunger Prevention Act of 2010 expanded the provision of after-school meals for at-risk children to all states.
At-Risk Afterschool Care serves the local community by providing children with a safe place to stay, nutritious meals, and the energy they need to focus on their homework and participate in athletic, educational, and social activities with their friends. Organizations can participate in the CACFP program as independent afterschool programs or through sponsorship, but must meet certain requirements to receive reimbursement for meals and snacks provided to eligible participants.
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
