December 14, 2010

TO: Sponsors of the National School Lunch Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program participating in the Afterschool Meals and Snack Program

RE: Eligibility of Expanded Learning Time Programs for Afterschool Snack Service

The Oregon Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs (ODE CNP) recently received guidance from USDA concerning eligibility of expanded learning time programs for afterschool snack service in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

Recently, educational programs aimed at serving at-risk children have evolved to include schools operating expanded learning times longer than the traditional school day. "Expanded learning time" is a common term used in the education arena to describe schools or school districts that add significantly more school time for academic and enrichment opportunities to improve student achievement.

To date, USDA's consideration of "afterschool" in implementing the afterschool snack components of the NSLP and CACFP has focused on the nature of the after school program offered by a participating school or other provider as distinct from a school program (e.g. relationship to the curriculum).

However, USDA has reconsidered this policy and has now determined that a school operating longer than the traditional school day may be eligible for afterschool snack reimbursement through NSLP or CACFP, or supper reimbursement through CACFP provided that it operates a school day that is at least one hour longer than the minimum number of school day hours required for the comparable grade levels by the local educational agency in which the school is located.

If you have questions about this memo; about qualifying additional sites; or about the CACFP supper reimbursement, please contact your assigned Child Nutrition Specialist.

Sincerely,