Afterschool Snack Programs
What are the Afterschool Snack Programs?
The Afterschool Snack Programs reimburse institutions that provide care during the after school hours for snacks served to children through age 18. To be eligible for reimbursement, afterschool care programs must meet the criteria below.
Under the National School Lunch Program, a school food authority must operate the lunch component and the school district must sponsor or operate an afterschool care program which:
- Provides children with regularly scheduled activities in an organized, structured and supervised environment; and
- Includes educational or enrichment activities.
During School Year 2005-2006, 55 School Food Authorities served nearly 1 million snacks through the National School Lunch, After School Snack Program in the District of Columbia.
Under the Child and Adult Care Food Program, At-Risk Afterschool Program, an eligible institution must operate an afterschool care program which:
- Provides children with regularly scheduled activities in an organized, structured and supervised environment;
- Includes educational or enrichment activities; and
- Is located in a geographical area served by a school in which 50 percent or more of the enrolled children are eligible for free or reduced price school meals.
As of January 2007, there were 60 afterschool programs participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, At-Risk Afterschool Program in the District of Columbia.
 
What are the benefits of participating in the programs?
The hours after school are a critical time when children and youth are most at-risk of engaging in delinquent behavior. An afterschool care program offers children and youth constructive activities and something to eat. It draws them into supervised afterschool care programs that are safe, fun, and filled with learning opportunities. Afterschool snacks fill the gap between the lunch they receive at school and the supper at home, and help children and youth receive the nutrition they need to learn, play, and grow.
Which schools and institutions can participate?
Institutions that are eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) may also participate in the two types of Afterschool Snack Programs. Such institutions include: public and private nonprofit schools, and public and private licensed child care institutions.
Under NSLP, snacks served in an "area eligible" afterschool care program are reimbursed at the free rate. Area eligibility means that the afterschool snack program is operated within or located in the geographical area of a school (i.e., elementary, middle, or high school) that has at least 50 percent of its enrollment eligible for free or reduced price meals according to specified family size and income standards. Under the CACFP At-risk Afterschool Program, all snacks are reimbursed at the free rate.
There are no federal licensing requirements to participate in the afterschool snack service; however, afterschool care programs are required to meet any State or local licensing requirements. If there are no state or local licensing requirements, programs must meet state or local health and safety requirements.
What is involved in operating an Afterschool Snack Program?
The Afterschool Snack Program operates in the same manner as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The snack program must be open to all enrolled children without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
Snacks must be served that meet the nutritional standards established by USDA. Records must be kept to document that the snack program follows all federal and state rules and regulations and operate the food service on a nonprofit basis.
In the NSLP, the following records must be maintained:
- Free and reduced-price applications for all children for whom free and reduced priced snacks are claimed.
- Meal counts (total for sites qualifying for free reimbursement for all children; meal counts by type for other sites).
- Documentation for each day of a child's attendance.
- Documentation of compliance with meal pattern requirements and production records.
In the CACFP, the following records must be maintained:
- Total meal counts.
- Documentation for each day of a child's attendance.
- Documentation of compliance with meal pattern requirements.
What are the nutritional requirements for snacks?
To be reimbursable, each snack must include at least two different food items of the following four: a serving of fluid milk; a serving of meat or meat alternative; a serving of vegetables or fruits or full-strength vegetable or fruit juice; a serving of whole grain or enriched bread or cereal. Examples of a reimbursable snack may include pretzels and 100 percent juice, or an apple and a carton of milk.
Who is eligible for free and reduced price snacks?
Afterschool snacks can be served to all school-age children who are 18 or under at the start of the school year. Students qualifying for free and reduced price meals under NSLP may also receive free and reduced price snacks. Under the CACFP At-risk Afterschool Program, all snacks are reimbursed at the free rate.
Snacks served to children who are attending classes of preprimary grade in a school (e.g., Head Start or Even Start) and who are participating in an eligible afterschool care program after their regularly scheduled school program may be claimed for reimbursement.
How much do organizations get reimbursed?
Snacks served in afterschool care programs that are "area eligible" will be reimbursed at the free rate, regardless of an individual student's eligibility for free or reduced price lunches. Snacks served in afterschool care programs that are not "area eligible" will be reimbursed at the free, reduced price and paid rate depending on each individual's eligibility for free or reduced price meals. The current (July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007) basic cash reimbursement rates are:
| Meals |
Reimbursement |
| Free snacks |
$0.65 |
| Reduced-price snacks |
$0.32 |
| Paid snacks |
$0.06 |
How can we get assistance?
Nutrition Services program specialists are available to provide schools with free technical assistance on how to operate a Afterschool Snack Program. Training is available on such topics as menu planning, proper food storage and preparation, record keeping and reporting, and clarifying federal and local regulations.
Whom do we contact?
For information on the Afterschool Snack Program, contact the District of Columbia, Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Nutrition Services Department, 441 4th Street NW, Suite 350N, Washington, DC 20001; 202-727-6436.
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