The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the reimbursement rates for School Food Service Programs effective July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. Federal reimbursement for free and reduced price lunches reflects the expiration of temporary allocations provided through the Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 (additional 40 cents per lunch and 15 cents per breakfast). Breakfasts and lunches will continue to be counted and claimed by income eligibility category and reimbursed at the federal "free" rate. The state share is based on a state matching funds formula established at the federal level.
The USDA Foods assistance level is at $0.3650 per lunch served for 2022-2023. The published per meal rate from the Federal Register for SY 2023-2024 is .2950 cents: a decrease from the rate of .3000 in SY 2022-2023. The per meal rate (.2950 cents) plus the 12 percent provision dollars and the 20 million breakfast dollars make the effective NSLP rate .3650 cents for SY 2023-24.
Federal Severe Need Lunch Rate — School systems in which 60% or more of the lunches served in 2020-2021 were free or reduced price will receive an additional 2 cents per lunch for all reimbursable lunches.
Eight Cent Menu Certification Rate — School Food Authorities that meet the requirements outlined in the final rule for Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch Program and approved will receive an additional eight cents for each reimbursable lunch.
School Breakfast Program — "severe need breakfast school" is one in which 40% of lunches served through February 2020 were free or reduced price lunch meals. As a result of the reauthorization of Child Nutrition Programs (Public Law 108-265), severe need breakfast schools do not need to submit cost documentation to receive the federal severe need breakfast reimbursement. Schools required to offer breakfast under state law will be eligible for up to $.095 for each reimbursable breakfast for breakfast costs that exceed Federal Severe Need Reimbursement. These state-mandated schools must provide documentation of costs through the monthly claim process to receive this additional state reimbursement.
Special Milk reimbursement is $0.2625 per half pint. Special milk recipients may not participate in other child nutrition programs. Pricing programs with the free milk option receive the average cost per pint for eligible students.
After School Snack Reimbursement ("All Free Snacks" are reimbursed at the Free Rate of $1.17).
Adult Meal Pricing Guidelines — Adult meal charges must be priced at the Federal reimbursement for a free student lunch plus the USDA Foods per meal value; inclusive of covering the cost of preparing and serving the meal and must be charged state meals tax.
Paid Lunch Equity in Meal Pricing — Pursuant to FY 2024 State Budget funding, school meals will be free of charge this school year.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Last Updated: September 8, 2023
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
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