USDA works with states and school nutrition professionals to provide kids with nutritious school meals that support their health and well-being. We have offered schools across the country nearly $13.2 billion in financial support since January 2021. Learn more below.
Purchasing Foods
- Nearly $4.1 billion in supply chain assistance funds for schools to purchase domestic foods.
- $1.125 billion to offset emergency operating costs for school lunch during the COVID public health emergency.
- Nearly $700 million for states to purchase local foods for schools through the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program.
Total
$5.9 Billion
Supporting Program Operations
- Provided schools $0.50 more per lunch and $0.18 more per breakfast for school year (SY) 2023-24, compared to the base reimbursement rates for SY 2022-23, through annual inflation adjustments and supply chain assistance (see Purchasing Foods above).
- Extra reimbursements of $0.61 per lunch and $0.29 per breakfast served in SY 2022-23, through annual inflation adjustments and the Keep Kids Fed Act.
- Extra average reimbursement of $0.84 per lunch and $0.26 per breakfast served in SY 2021-22, through reimbursement of Seamless Summer Option meals at the Summer Food Service Program rates.
- $600,000 to support trainings that will improve food safety knowledge and communications for school nutrition professionals.
*$7.0 billion does not include costs associated with annual inflation adjustments under normal program rules, nor the supply chain assistance funds under “Purchasing Foods.”
Total
Nearly $7.0 Billion*
Sparking Innovation & Modernization
- $150 million for Equipment Assistance Grants to help schools buy kitchen equipment.
- $50 million to increase collaboration between schools, food producers and suppliers, and other partners to develop nutritious, appetizing school meals, through the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative.
- $20 million for School Breakfast Program Expansion Grants to grow school breakfast programs in the U.S. states and territories.
Total
$210 Million
Improving Meal Quality
- $48 million to provide nutritious, local foods and agricultural education through expanded Farm to School engagement.
- $30 million to improve the nutritional quality of meals at 264 small and/or rural school districts, through the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative.
- Nearly $37 million in Team Nutrition Training Grants to support nutrition education and training for schools.