National School Lunch Afterschool Snack Program

Regional offices

The Afterschool Snack Program is a federally assisted snack program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. School districts and independent schools that choose to take part in the snack program receive cash subsidies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for each snack they serve. In return, they must serve snacks that meet federal requirements, and they must offer free or reduced price snacks to eligible children.

Income eligibility guidelines

Generally, public or nonprofit private schools of high school grade or under and public or nonprofit private residential child care institutions may participate in the school lunch program.

In order for a site to participate, a school district must run the National School Lunch Program and sponsor or operate the afterschool care program. This afterschool care program must provide children with regularly scheduled educational or enrichment activities in a supervised environment.

USDA provides a cash reimbursement for each snack served to schools in the Afterschool Snack Program .

The current basic cash reimbursement rates for the contiguous states are:

• Free afterschool snacks: $1.21
• Reduced-price snacks: $0.60
• Paid snacks: $0.18

Rates are in effect from July 1 through June 30 every year. Higher reimbursement rates are in effect for Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands, as shown in the Federal Register notice.

Rates of reimbursement page

Contact the appropriate regional office to be put in contact with the state agency responsible for the administration of child nutrition programs. A link to the list of regional offices contacts is available on the program website.