Federal school meal programs provide more than 31 million children with school lunches and more than 11 million children with school breakfasts each day. Schools participating in these programs get cash subsidies and donated commodities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for each meal they serve. In return, they must serve meals that meet federal requirements and they must offer free or reduced price lunches to eligible children. Schools can also be reimbursed for afterschool snacks served to children.

The Food and Nutrition Service at USDA administers school nutrition programs at the federal level. States administer these programs through a variety of state agencies that operate the program through agreements with local school food authorities.

Related Materials:

• NGA Letter on Governors View of the Healthy and Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
  May 5, 2010 letter (from Governor Ritter and Governor Rell) to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman Blanche Lincoln and Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss expressing governors' views of the Healthy and Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

• NGA Letter Urging Increased Funding for School Meal Programs
  January 28, 2010 letter (from Governor Ritter and Governor Rell) to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman Blanche Lincoln and Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss, and House Committee on Education and Labor Chairman George Miller and Ranking Member John Kline requesting that Congress significantly increase funding for school nutrition programs contained in child nutrition legislation in order to reduce child hunger and improve the health and nutrition of children across the nation.

• Shaping a Healthier Generation: Successful State Strategies to Prevent Childhood Obesity

• State Strategies to Help Schools Make the Most of Their National School Lunch Program