The Afterschool Snack Program (ASP) is a federally funded program that offers cash assistance to public, public charter, and nonprofit private schools as well as residential child care institutions (RCCIs). The ASP helps schools serve afterschool snacks to children in afterschool activities. The goal is to promote health and wellness amongst children and youth in our communities. OSSE’s Division of Health and Wellness School Programs Team administers the ASP for the District of Columbia.

Schools must apply to participate in the Afterschool Snack Program (ASP) on an annual basis, however the ASP is a sub program under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and therefore schools may apply using the same application.

In order to participate, schools must provide children with regularly scheduled activities in an organized, structured, and supervised environment and include educational or enrichment activities (i.e. tutoring or mentoring programs). Competitive interscholastic sports teams are not eligible to participate in the ASP.

Certain food requirements must be met for all snacks served. Schools must also meet and maintain certain administrative requirements for participation.

Schools receive funding by being reimbursed for eligible snacks served. An “eligible” snack is one that meets all the nutrition and meal pattern requirements set forth by the federal regulations. These are often called “reimbursable snacks”. How much a school is reimbursed depends on how many of each category of snack is served; free, reduced and paid. Eligible snacks served to children who qualify for free snacks are reimbursed at a higher rate than those meals served to children who qualify for paid snacks.

Reimbursements rates are set each year by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).Participation in the Afterschool Snack Program (ASP), as with all USDA Child Nutrition Programs, is voluntary.

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Additional information on the program can be found at the USDA Afterschool Snack Program page.