DESCRIPTION:
Public school districts, nonprofit, nonpublic schools and residential childcare institutions are eligible to participate in these Programs. Federal and State reimbursement is provided monthly for meals served to children that meet federal meal pattern requirements. The amount of reimbursement for each meal is based on the family's eligibility for free, reduced price or full priced meals, which is determined by an annually approved application, direct certification letter or computer match with the local Department of Social Services or the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. In addition, $.2275 in donated foods is available per day per lunch to each school food authority.
- School Breakfast Programs
Chapter 537 of the Laws of 1976 mandated that school breakfast programs be instituted in all public schools in the City School Districts of Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers.
Chapter 798 of the Laws of 1980 required funding levels of $.11 for each free breakfast, $.12 for each reduced price breakfast and $.0025 for each full price breakfast. Chapter 53 of the Laws of 1988 raised the State subsidy an additional $.05 for each reduced price breakfast to $.17.
Chapter 798 of the Laws of 1980 also authorized the reimbursement of all approved costs exceeding revenues associated with the federal school breakfast programs to school districts during their first year of operation, payable in the following year ("full cost reimbursement").
Section 389 of Chapter 57 of the Laws of 1993 added a new Subdivision c to §1 of Chapter 537 of the Laws of 1976 to require school districts to establish school breakfast programs no later than September 1, 1993 in public elementary schools categorized as "severe need."
Chapters 614 and 615 of the Laws of 1993 further amended the provisions for mandated school breakfast programs by extending the requirements to all public "severe need" schools beginning September 1, 1994 and to all elementary schools that were in the National School Lunch Program on or after January 1, 1993 no later than September 1, 1995. Schools may obtain an annual exemption if they can document lack of need, economic hardship or other good cause.
- National School Lunch Program
The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981 (PL 97-35) changed the State Revenue Matching Requirement for the National School Lunch Program. For each school year, beginning with school year 1981-1982, the State Revenue Matching Requirement is equal to 30 percent of all federal §4 funds provided for reimbursement of lunches served to children in the school year 1980-1981, unless the §4 funds in a succeeding year exceed the amounts paid in 1980-1981.
Projections for the breakfast and lunch programs will vary from year-to-year based on when holidays fall. Both the days of the week of the holidays and the fiscal year where Easter occurs affect how schools allocate vacation time, which in turn impacts on days of service.
AUTHORITY:
Federal Statute: National School Lunch Act, Child Nutrition
Federal Regulation: 7 CFR 210, 220, 245
State Statute:
State Regulation:
FUNDING SOURCE(S):
State- $
Federal- $
Special Revenue-
Total- $825m