Special Milk Program for Children

To provide subsidies to schools and institutions to encourage the consumption of fluid milk by children.

The Special Milk Program provides milk to children in schools, child care institutions and eligible camps that do not participate in other Federal child nutrition meal service programs. The program reimburses schools and institutions for the milk they serve. Schools in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs may also participate in the Special Milk Program to provide milk to children in half‐day pre‐kindergarten and kindergarten programs where children do not have access to the school meal programs. To learn more, visit the SMP webpage: https://www.fns.usda.gov/smp/special-milk-program

The State, including the District of Columbia, or U.S. Territory as applicable, administers this program. Public and nonprofit private school of high school grade or under, and public and private nonprofit residential and nonresidential child care institutions, except Job Corps centers, may participate in this program upon request if they do not participate in a meal service program authorized under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. This generally includes nonprofit nursery schools, child care centers, settlement houses and summer camps. Schools with split session kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs can receive subsidies for milk served to children in the split session kindergartens and pre-kindergartens that do not have access to another meal service program operating in the school. All schools and child care institutions that participate must agree to operate this program on a nonprofit basis for all children without regard to race, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), color, national origin, age or disability.

All children enrolled in participating schools and institutions who do not have access to other Child Nutrition Programs, may participate in this program.

Funds are made available to State agencies to encourage the consumption of fluid milk by children in public and private, nonprofit schools of high school grade and under, public and private, nonprofit nursery schools, child care centers, settlement houses, summer camps, and similar nonprofit institutions devoted to the care and training of children, except Job Corps centers, provided that these schools and institutions do not participate in a meal service program authorized under the National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. The Child Nutrition Amendments of 1986 expanded eligibility to include children in split session kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs in nonprofit schools and institutions that do not have access to the Federal meal service program operating in schools the children attend. Disbursement to States is made on the basis of the number of half-pints of milk served to non-needy children, using a reimbursement rate specified by law. Milk served free to eligible needy children is reimbursed at the average cost of a half-pint of milk. Please refer to regulations: 7 CFR Part 215 -- Special Milk Program; 7 CFR Part 235 -- State Administrative Expense; 7 CFR Part 245 -- Free and Reduced Price Eligibility.

Funds are made available to State agencies to encourage the consumption of fluid milk by children in public and private, nonprofit schools of high school grade and under, public and private, nonprofit nursery schools, child care centers, settlement houses, summer camps, and similar nonprofit institutions devoted to the care and training of children, except Job Corps centers, provided that these schools and institutions do not participate in a meal service program authorized under the National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. The Child Nutrition Amendments of 1986 expanded eligibility to include children in split session kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs in nonprofit schools and institutions that do not have access to the Federal meal service program operating in schools the children attend. Disbursement to States is made on the basis of the number of half-pints of milk served to non-needy children, using a reimbursement rate specified by law. Milk served free to eligible needy children is reimbursed at the average cost of a half-pint of milk. Please refer to regulations: 7 CFR Part 215 -- Special Milk Program; 7 CFR Part 235 -- State Administrative Expense; 7 CFR Part 245 -- Free and Reduced Price Eligibility.

For the period covered by the agreement on a fiscal year basis.

All participating entities do so vis a federal state agreement.

The State agency reviews the written application of the school or child care institution and, upon determination of eligibility, makes a written agreement for participation in this program.

Agreements are effective upon approval of the State Agency.

Agreements are permanent; amended as necessary.

State Agencies are responsible for determining eligibility of a school or institution.