State legislation can increase access to and support for afterschool meals. States can allocate funding to encourage site expansion and support programming, require participation in high-need areas and make changes to enhance administrative efficiencies.
Specific state policy changes to afterschool meal programs has included:
Streamlining administrative processes for School Food Authorities
Encouraging data-sharing between state agencies and nonprofit partners
Streamlining participation between the Summer Food Service Program and afterschool meal programs
Providing grants to fund afterschool programming
The following table provides information about passed legislation affecting afterschool meals. Links are included to the language of each bill.
Requires a school administrative unit with a public school where 50 percent and more students that are eligible for free and reduced-price (FRP) meals to participate in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), beginning school year 2019-2020. The school administrative may only be exempted from participating in the program if it is proved, after notice and public hearing, that there would be financial or logistical constraints.
Provides grants to school districts, community organizations, and government agencies to purchase or upgrade equipment; to comply with sanitation requirements; to conduct outreach, or fund program activities.
This resource traces the path of the funding that supports afterschool meals from Congress to kids' plates. It also answers common questions about how the program works.
