July 19, 2010 -- USDA's Food and Nutrition Service has published the reimbursement rates for the 2010-11 school year. The rates are effective as of July 1, 2010.

The basic rate (Section 4 and Section 11 funds) for paid lunch in the 48 contiguous states is 26¢ - an increase of one cent from last school year. Free lunches will be reimbursed at $2.72 per meal - up from $2.68 last year. Reduced price lunch reimbursement is now $2.32 up from $2.28 last year.

Paid breakfast reimbursement rates remained the same at 26¢ and free breakfast is now $1.48 while reduced-price breakfast is now $1.18 in non-severe need districts. In severe need districts, free breakfast is now $1.76 and reduced-price breakfast is $1.46.

The rate for donated foods is 20.25 cents per meal – an increase of 0.75 cents from last year. The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) rate for paid breakfast and supper will be 0.26. Reduced price breakfast and supper will be 1.18 and 2.32. Free breakfast will be 1.48 and supper will be 2.72.

To review the rate charts and notices including new reimbursement rates for Alaska and Hawaii, please see Related Links.

Related Links

SY 2010-2011 Reimbursement Rates (pdf)

July 19, 2010—Does your school participate in the National Dairy Council (NDC)’s Fuel Up to Play 60 program? If so, you could be eligible to receive up to $3,000 in funding. General Mills Foodservice has committed $100,000 to help K-12 schools build their breakfast programs through the NDC’s Child Nutrition and Fitness Initiative Breakfast Grant program. This grant specifically targets breakfast, providing funds to help schools improve or expand their breakfast programs with an emphasis on alternative breakfast options that are sustainable.

In addition to participating in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program for the 2010-11 school year, schools that apply for the grant also must have support from their principals, district school nutrition directors and school nutrition managers; have a school enrollment of at least 500 students and demonstrate an opportunity to raise their breakfast participation.

For more information and to apply, visit www.fueluptoplay60.com. The application deadline is August 15, 2010. Applicants will be notified by August 31 regarding the status of their applications.

Related Links

Application, Child Nutrition and Fitness Initiative Grant

July 19, 2010 - Last week, the House Education and Labor Committee approved H.R. 5504, the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act. Members approved the legislation by a vote of 32 to 13 during the Committee’s mark up on July 14-15, 2010. The bill now moves to the House floor for debate.

The “Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act” includes many reforms that will allow more sufficient access and fewer barriers to child nutrition programs. The bill would increase the reimbursement rate for school nutrition programs and require the Secretary of Agriculture to set competitive food standards. The legislation would spend an additional $8 billion over 10 years on child nutrition programs. As over 32 million children rely on federal child nutrition programs, H.R. 5504 has the potential to further improve school nutrition programs nationwide.

Highlights of the amendments agreed to by a voice vote include:

• Representative Jared Polis (D-Colo.) offered an amendment that would require the Secretary of Agriculture to develop professional standards for school nutrition professionals.
• Representative Dale Kildee (D-Mich.) offered an amendment that would automatically enroll any foster care child who is a member of an Indian tribe into child nutrition programs.
• Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.) added language that would require state agencies to give priority to schools in lowest poverty areas.
• Representative Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) suggested language that would direct the Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the appropriate Congressional committees after an examination of access to free and reduced price school meals for eligible children of members of the Armed Forces on active duty.
• Representative David Wu (D-Ore.) offered an amendment to include frozen fruit without added sugar in the school food programs.

The full list of Amendments (both agreed and not decided) can be found here http://edlabor.house.gov/markups/2010/07/hr-5504-improving-nutrition-fo.shtml

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a statement following the mark up of H.R. 5504 and praised the bipartisan commitment to reduce hunger and improve the health and academic achievement of the Nation’s children. Committee passage brings child nutrition programs one step closer to reauthorization. To view Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsacks comments, see this link: Secretary Vilsack’s Statement on House Education and Labor Committee markup of CNR Bill

The House bill’s markup reignites the reauthorization process. The legislation largely mirrors the Senate’s Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 provisions, but is expected to expand the Senate bill’s additional funds for child nutrition programs.

H.R. 5504 Bill Text