National School Lunch, Special Milk, and School Breakfast Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates, 56720-56724 [2024-15175]
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56720
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 132 / Wednesday, July 10, 2024 / Notices
provide assurance where necessary that
foodstuffs comply with requirements,
especially statutory health
requirements;
(c) to develop guidelines for the
utilization, as and when appropriate, of
quality assurance systems to ensure that
foodstuffs conform with requirements
and to promote the recognition of these
systems in facilitating trade in food
products under bilateral/multilateral
arrangements by countries;
(d) to develop guidelines and criteria
with respect to format, declarations and
language of such official certificates as
countries may require with a view
towards international harmonization;
(e) to make recommendations for
information exchange in relation to food
import/export control;
(f) to consult as necessary with other
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related to food inspection and
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(g) to consider other matters assigned
to it by the Commission in relation to
food inspection and certification
systems.
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planned and systematic actions
necessary to provide adequate
confidence that a product or service will
satisfy given requirements for quality
(ISO–8402 Quality—Vocabulary).
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a member country of Codex.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Issues To Be Discussed at the Public
Meeting
The following items from the
Provisional Agenda for the 27th Session
of the CCFICS will be discussed during
the public meeting:
• Matters arising from the Codex
Alimentarius Commission and its
subsidiary bodies
• Information on activities of the FAO
and WHO and other international
organizations relevant to the work of
CCFICS
• Draft Consolidated Codex
Guidelines related to Equivalence
• Draft Guidelines on the Prevention
and Control of Food Fraud
• Draft revision and updating of the
Principles for Traceability/Product
Tracing as a Tool Within a Food
Inspection and Certification System
(CXG 60–2006)
• Discussion paper on guidance on
appeals mechanism in the context of
rejection of imported food
• Discussion paper on the
standardization of sanitary requirements
• Review and update of Appendix
A—the list of emerging global issues
• Other business
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Public Meeting
At the August 21, 2024, public
meeting, draft U.S. positions on the
agenda items will be described and
discussed, and attendees will have the
opportunity to pose questions and offer
comments. Written comments may be
offered at the meeting or sent to Dr.
Michelle Catlin, U.S. Delegate to the
27th Session of the CCFICS, at
michelle.catlin@usda.gov. Written
comments should state that they relate
to activities of the 27th Session of the
CCFICS.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of
rulemaking and policy development is
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Codex Office will announce this Federal
Register publication on-line through the
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also offers an email subscription service
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To file a complaint of discrimination,
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or your authorized representative. Send
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should contact USDA’s TARGET Center
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Done at Washington, DC, on July 3, 2024.
Julie A. Chao,
Deputy U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2024–15096 Filed 7–9–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3420–3F–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
National School Lunch, Special Milk,
and School Breakfast Programs,
National Average Payments/Maximum
Reimbursement Rates
Food and Nutrition Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This Notice announces the
annual adjustments to the national
average payments, the amount of money
the Federal Government provides States
for lunches, afterschool snacks, and
breakfasts served to children
participating in the National School
Lunch and School Breakfast Programs;
to the maximum reimbursement rates,
the maximum per lunch rate from
Federal funds that a State can provide
a school food authority for lunches
served to children participating in the
National School Lunch Program; and to
the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint
of milk served to non-needy children in
a school or institution that participates
in the Special Milk Program for
Children. The annual payments and
rates adjustments for the National
School Lunch and School Breakfast
Programs reflect changes in the Food
Away From Home series of the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers. The annual rate adjustment
for the Special Milk Program reflects
changes in the Producer Price Index for
Fluid Milk Products. Further
adjustments are made to these rates to
reflect higher costs of providing meals
in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico,
and Virgin Islands. The payments and
rates are prescribed on an annual basis
each July.
DATES: These rates are in effect from
July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Penny Burke, Branch Chief, Program
Monitoring and Operational Support
Division, Child Nutrition Programs, FNS
USDA, 1320 Braddock Place, Suite 401,
Alexandria, VA 22314, 303–844–0357.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Background
Special Milk Program for Children—
Pursuant to section 3 of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42
U.S.C. 1772), the Department announces
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the rate of reimbursement for a half pint
of milk served to non-needy children in
a school or institution that participates
in the Special Milk Program for
Children. This rate is adjusted annually
to reflect changes in the Producer Price
Index for Fluid Milk Products,
published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the Department of Labor.
National School Lunch and School
Breakfast Programs—Pursuant to
sections 11 and 17A of the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act, (42
U.S.C. 1759a and 1766a), and section 4
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42
U.S.C. 1773), the Department annually
announces the adjustments to the
National Average Payment Factors and
to the maximum Federal reimbursement
rates for lunches and afterschool snacks
served to children participating in the
National School Lunch Program and
breakfasts served to children
participating in the School Breakfast
Program. Adjustments are prescribed
each July 1, based on changes in the
Food Away From Home series of the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers, published by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the Department of
Labor.
Lunch Payment Levels—Section 4 of
the Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753) provides
general cash for food assistance
payments to States to assist schools in
purchasing food. The Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act provides
two different section 4 payment levels
for lunches served under the National
School Lunch Program. The lower
payment level applies to lunches served
by school food authorities in which less
than 60 percent of the lunches served in
the school lunch program during the
second preceding school year were
served free or at a reduced price. The
higher payment level applies to lunches
served by school food authorities in
which 60 percent or more of the lunches
served during the second preceding
school year were served free or at a
reduced price.
To supplement these section 4
payments, section 11 of the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C. 1759(a)) provides special cash
assistance payments to aid schools in
providing free and reduced-price
lunches. The section 11 National
Average Payment Factor for each
reduced-price lunch served is set at 40
cents less than the factor for each free
lunch.
As authorized under sections 8 and 11
of the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1757 and
1759a), maximum reimbursement rates
for each type of lunch are prescribed by
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the Department in this Notice. These
maximum rates are to ensure equitable
disbursement of Federal funds to school
food authorities.
Performance-based Reimbursement—
In addition to the funding mentioned
above, school food authorities certified
as meeting the meal pattern and
nutrition standard requirements set
forth in 7 CFR parts 210 and 220 are
eligible to receive performance-based
cash assistance for each reimbursable
lunch served (an additional nine cents
per lunch available beginning July 1,
2024, and adjusted annually thereafter).
Afterschool Snack Payments in
Afterschool Care Programs—Section
17A of the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766a)
establishes National Average Payments
for free, reduced price and paid
afterschool snacks as part of the
National School Lunch Program.
Breakfast Payment Factors—Section 4
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42
U.S.C. 1773) establishes National
Average Payment Factors for free,
reduced price, and paid breakfasts
served under the School Breakfast
Program and additional payments for
free and reduced-price breakfasts served
in schools determined to be in ‘‘severe
need’’ because they serve a high
percentage of free and reduced eligible
children.
Adjusted Payments
The following specific section 4,
section 11, and section 17A National
Average Payment Factors and maximum
reimbursement rates for lunch, the
afterschool snack rates, and the
breakfast rates are in effect from July 1,
2024, through June 30, 2025. Due to a
higher cost of living, the average
payments and maximum
reimbursements for Alaska, Guam,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands
are higher than those for all other States.
The District of Columbia uses figures
specified for the contiguous States.
These rates do not include the value of
USDA Foods or cash-in-lieu of USDA
Foods which schools receive as
additional assistance for each meal
served to participants under the
Program. A notice announcing the value
of USDA Foods and cash-in-lieu of
USDA Foods is published separately in
the Federal Register.
Adjustments to the national average
payment rates for all lunches served
under the National School Lunch
Program, breakfasts served under the
School Breakfast Program, and
afterschool snacks served under the
National School Lunch Program are
rounded down to the nearest whole
cent.
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56721
Special Milk Program Payments
For the period July 1, 2024, through
June 30, 2025, the rate of reimbursement
for a half pint of milk served to a nonneedy child in a school or institution
that participates in the Special Milk
Program is 27.00 cents. This change is
based on the 2.91 percent increase in
the Producer Price Index for Fluid Milk
Products from May 2023 to May 2024.
As a reminder, schools or institutions
with pricing programs that elect to serve
milk free to eligible children continue to
receive the average cost of a half pint of
milk (the total cost of all milk purchased
during the claim period divided by the
total number of purchased half pints) for
each half pint served to an eligible
child.
National School Lunch Program
Payments
Overall, payments for the National
School Lunch Program and the
Afterschool Snack Program increased
due to a 4.03 percent increase in the
national average payment rates for
schools and residential child care
institutions for the period July 1, 2024,
through June 30, 2025 in the Consumer
Price Index for All Urban Consumers for
the Food Away From Home series
during the 12-month period May 2023
to May 2024 (from a level of 352.892 in
May 2023, as previously published in
the Federal Register to 367.099 in May
2024).
These changes are reflected below.
Section 4 National Average Payment
Factors—In school food authorities that
served less than 60 percent free and
reduced-price lunches in School Year
(SY) 2022–2023, the payments for meals
served are: Contiguous States—paid
rate—42 cents (2 cents increase from the
2023–2024 rate), free and reduced price
rate—42 cents (2 cents increase),
maximum rate—50 cents (2 cents
increase); Alaska—paid rate—69 cents
(3 cents increase), free and reduced
price rate—69 cents (3 cents increase),
maximum rate—79 cents (3 cents
increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico,
and Virgin Islands—paid rate—55 cents
(2 cents increase), free and reduced
price rate—55 cents (2 cents increase),
maximum rate—64 cents (3 cents
increase).
In school food authorities that served
60 percent or more free and reduced
price lunches in School Year 2022–
2023, payments are: Contiguous
States—paid rate—44 cents (2 cents
increase), free and reduced price rate—
44 cents (2 cents increase), maximum
rate—50 cents (2 cents increase);
Alaska—paid rate—71 cents (3 cents
increase), free and reduced price rate—
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71 cents (3 cents increase), maximum
rate—79 cents (3 cents increase); Guam,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands—paid rate—57 cents (2 cents
increase), free and reduced price rate—
57 cents (2 cents increase), maximum
rate—64 cents (3 cents increase).
School food authorities certified to
receive the performance-based cash
assistance will receive an additional 9
cents (adjusted annually) added to the
above amounts as part of their section
4 payments.
Section 11 National Average Payment
Factors—Contiguous States—free
lunch—4 dollars and 1 cent (16 cents
increase from the SY 2023–2024 rate),
reduced price lunch—3 dollars and 61
cents (16 cents increase); Alaska—free
lunch—6 dollars and 49 cents (25 cents
increase), reduced price lunch—6
dollars and 9 cents (25 cents increase);
Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands—free lunch—5 dollars and 21
cent (20 cents increase), reduced price
lunch—4 dollars and 81 cents (20 cents
increase).
Afterschool Snacks in Afterschool
Care Programs—The payments are:
Contiguous States—free snack—1 dollar
and 21 cents (4 cents increase from the
SY 2023–2024), reduced price snack—
60 cents (2 cents increase), paid snack—
11 cents (1 cent increase); Alaska—free
snack—1 dollar and 97 cents (8 cent
increase), reduced price snack—98 cents
(4 cents increase), paid snack—18 cents
(1 cent increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto
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Rico and Virgin Islands—free snack—1
dollar and 58 cents (6 cents increase),
reduced price snack—79 cents (3 cents
increase), paid snack—14 cents (1 cent
increase).
School Breakfast Program Payments
Overall, payments for the National
School Breakfast Program increased due
to a 4.03 percent increase in the national
average payment rates for schools and
residential child care institutions for the
period July 1, 2024 through June 30,
2025 in the Consumer Price Index for
All Urban Consumers in the Food Away
from Home series during the 12-month
period May 2023 to May 2024 (from a
level of 352.892 in May 2023, as
previously published in the Federal
Register to 367.099 in May 2024).
These changes are reflected below.
For schools ‘‘not in severe need’’ the
payments are: Contiguous States—free
breakfast—2 dollars and 37 cents (9
cents increase from the SY 2023–2024
rate), reduced price breakfast—2 dollars
and 7 cents (9 cents increase), paid
breakfast—39 cents (1 cent increase);
Alaska free breakfast—3 dollars and 80
cents (14 cents increase), reduced price
breakfast—3 dollars and 50 cents (14
cents increase), paid breakfast—60 cents
(2 cents increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto
Rico and Virgin Islands—free
breakfast—3 dollars and 6 cents (11
cents increase), reduced price
breakfast—2 dollars and 76 cents (11
cents increase), paid breakfast—49 cents
(2 cents increase).
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For schools in ‘‘severe need’’ the
payments are: Contiguous States—free
breakfast—2 dollars and 84 cents (11
cents increase from the SY 2023–2024),
reduced price breakfast—2 dollars and
54 cents (11 cents increase), paid
breakfast—39 cents (1 cent increase);
Alaska—free breakfast—4 dollars and 56
cents (17 cents increase), reduced price
breakfast—4 dollars and 26 cents (17
cents increase), paid breakfast—60 cents
(2 cents increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto
Rico and Virgin Islands—free
breakfast—3 dollars and 67 cents (14
cents increase), reduced price
breakfast—3 dollars and 37 cents (14
cents increase), paid breakfast—49 cents
(2 cents increase).
Payment Chart
The following chart illustrates the
lunch National Average Payment
Factors with the sections 4 and 11
already combined to indicate the per
lunch amount; the maximum lunch
reimbursement rates; the reimbursement
rates for afterschool snacks served in
afterschool care programs; the breakfast
National Average Payment Factors
including severe need schools; and the
milk reimbursement rate. All amounts
are expressed in dollars or fractions
thereof. The payment factors and
reimbursement rates used for the
District of Columbia are those specified
for the contiguous States.
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
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56723
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
MEAL, SNACK AND MILK PAJMENTS TO STATES AND SCHOOL FOOD AUTHORITIES
Expressed in Dollars or Fractions Thereof
Effective from: July I, 2024 - June 30, 2025
PAID
cents2
60% or
60% OR MORE+ MAXIMUM
MORE
RATE
9 cents2
MAXIMUM
RATE+9
cents2
0.42
0.51
0.44
0.53
0.50
0.59
4.03
4.12
4.05
4.14
4.20
4.29
FREE
4.43
4.52
4.45
4.54
4.60
4.69
PAID
0.69
0.78
0.71
0.80
0.79
0.88
REDUCED PRICE
6.78
6.87
6.80
6.89
7.03
7.12
FREE
7.18
7.27
7.20
7.29
7.43
7.52
0.55
0.64
0.57
0.66
0.64
0.73
5.36
5.45
5.38
5.47
5.57
5.66
5.76
5.85
5.78
5.87
5.97
6.06
CONTIGUOUS
REDUCED PRICE
STATES
AIASKA
LE-iS
THAN
60o/o + 9
LE-iS
THAN
60%
NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH
PROGRAM!
GUAM,
PAID
HAWAII,
PUERTO RICO
REDUCED PRICE
and VIRGIN
ISIA~S
FREE
SCHOOLBRFAKFASTPROGRAM
NON-SEVERENIED
SEVERENEID
0.39
2.07
2.37
0.60
3.50
3.80
0.49
2.76
3.06
0.39
2.54
2.84
0.60
4.26
4.56
0.49
3.37
3.67
PAID
REDUCED PRICE
FREE
PAID
AIASKA
REDUCED PRICE
FREE
PAID
GUAM, HAWAII, PUERTO RICO
REDUCED PRICE
and VIRGIN ISLANDS
FREE
CONTIGUOUS STATES
SPECIAL MILK PROGRAM
PRICING PROGRAMS WITHOUT FREE OPTION
PRICING PROGRAMS WITH FREE OPTION
NONPRICING PROGRAMS
ALL
MILK
PAID
MILK
FREEMILK
0.2700
NIA
NIA
KIA
0.2700
Average Cost Per 1/2 Pint of
Milk
0.2700
NIA
NIA
AFfERSCHOOL SNACKS SFRVID IN AFfERSCHOOL CARE PROGRAMS
PAID
REDUCED PRICE
0.11
0.60
1.21
0.18
0.98
1.97
0.14
0.79
1.58
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FREE
PAID
ALASKA
REDUCED PRICE
FREE
PAID
GUAM, HA WAIi, PUERTO RICO and VIRGIN
REDUCED PRICE
ISIANDS
FREE
1
Payment listed for Free and Reduced Price Lunches include both section 4 and section 11 funds
2
Perfonmnce-based cash reimbursement (adjusted annually for inflation)
This action is not a rule as defined by
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.
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601–612) and thus is exempt from the
provisions of that Act. This notice has
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been determined to be exempt under
Executive Order 12866.
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CONTIGUOUS STATF.S
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In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507),
no new recordkeeping or reporting
requirements have been included that
are subject to approval from the Office
of Management and Budget.
National School Lunch, School
Breakfast, and Special Milk Programs
are listed in the Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance under No. 10.555,
No. 10.553, and No. 10.556,
respectively, and are subject to the
provisions of Executive Order 12372,
which requires intergovernmental
consultation with State and local
officials (See 2 CFR 415.3–415.6).
Authority: Sections 4, 8, 11, and 17A
of the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act, as amended, (42
U.S.C. 1753, 1757, 1759a, 1766a) and
sections 3 and 4(b) of the Child
Nutrition Act, as amended, (42 U.S.C.
1772 and 42 U.S.C. 1773(b)).
Cynthia Long,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–15175 Filed 7–9–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–C
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Child and Adult Care Food Program:
National Average Payment Rates, Day
Care Home Food Service Payment
Rates, and Administrative
Reimbursement Rates for Sponsoring
Organizations of Day Care Homes for
the Period July 1, 2024 Through June
30, 2025
Food and Nutrition Service,
Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice announces the
annual adjustments to the national
average payment rates for meals and
snacks served in child care centers,
outside-school-hours care centers, atrisk afterschool care centers, and adult
day care centers; the food service
payment rates for meals and snacks
served in day care homes; and the
administrative reimbursement rates for
sponsoring organizations of day care
homes, to reflect changes in the
Consumer Price Index. Further
adjustments are made to these rates to
reflect the higher costs of providing
meals in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto
Rico, and Virgin Islands. The
adjustments contained in this notice are
made on an annual basis each July, as
required by the laws and regulations
governing the Child and Adult Care
Food Program.
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SUMMARY:
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These rates are in effect from
July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Penny Burke, Branch Chief, Program
Monitoring and Operational Support
Division, Child Nutrition Programs, FNS
USDA, 1320 Braddock Place, Suite 401,
Alexandria, Virginia 22314, 303–844–
0357.
DATES:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Pursuant to sections 4, 11, and 17 of
the Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753, 1759a and
1766), section 4 of the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) and 7 CFR
226.4, 226.12 and 226.13 of the Program
regulations, notice is hereby given of the
new payment rates for institutions
participating in the Child and Adult
Care Food Program. As provided for
under the law, all rates in the Child and
Adult Care Food Program must be
revised annually, on July 1, to reflect
changes in the Consumer Price Index
(CPI), published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the United States
Department of Labor, for the most recent
12-month period. These rates are in
effect during the period of July 1, 2024
through June 30, 2025.
Adjusted Payments
The following national average
payment factors and food service
payment rates for meals and snacks are
in effect from July 1, 2024 through June
30, 2025. All amounts are expressed in
dollars or fractions thereof. Due to a
higher cost of living, the
reimbursements for Alaska, Guam,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands
are higher than those for all other States.
The District of Columbia uses the
figures specified for the contiguous
States. These rates do not include the
value of USDA Foods or cash-in-lieu of
USDA Foods, which institutions receive
as additional assistance for each lunch
or supper served to participants under
the Program. A notice announcing the
value of USDA Foods and cash-in-lieu
of USDA Foods is published separately
in the Federal Register.
Adjustments to the national average
payment rates for all meals served under
the Child and Adult Care Food Program
are rounded down to the nearest whole
cent.
National Average Payment Rates for
Centers
The changes in the national average
payment rates for centers reflect a 4.03
percent increase during the 12-month
period from May 2023 to May 2024
(from 352.892 in May 2023, as
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previously published in the Federal
Register, to 367.099 in May 2024) in the
Food Away From Home series of the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers.
Payments for breakfasts served are:
Contiguous States—paid rate—39 cents
(1 cent increase from the 2023–2024
rate), reduced price rate—2 dollar and 7
cents (9 cents increase), free rate—2
dollars and 37 cents (9 cents increase);
Alaska—paid rate—60 cents (2 cents
increase), reduced price rate—3 dollars
and 50 cents (14 cents increase), free
rate—3 dollars and 80 cents (14 cents
increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico
and Virgin Islands—paid rate—49 cents
(2 cents increase), reduced price rate—
2 dollars and 76 cents (11 cents
increase), free rate—3 dollars and 6
cents (11 cents increase).
Payments for lunch or supper served
are: Contiguous States—paid rate—42
cents (2 cents increase), reduced price
rate—4 dollars and 3 cents (18 cents
increase), free rate—4 dollars and 43
cents (18 cents increase); Alaska—paid
rate—69 cents (3 cents increase),
reduced price rate—6 dollars and 78
cents (28 cents increase), free rate—7
dollars and 18 cents (28 cents increase);
Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands—paid rate—55 cents (2 cents
increase), reduced price rate—5 dollars
and 36 cents (22 cents increase), free
rate—5 dollars and 76 cents (22 cents
increase).
Payments for snack served are:
Contiguous States—paid rate—11 cents
(1 cents increase), reduced price rate—
60 cents (2 cents increase), free rate—1
dollar and 21 cents (4 cents increase);
Alaska—paid rate—18 cents (1 cent
increase), reduced price rate—98 cents
(4 cent increase), free rate—1 dollar and
97 cents (8 cents increase); Guam,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands—paid rate—14 cents (1 cents
increase), reduced price rate—79 cents
(3 cents increase), free rate—1 dollar
and 58 cents (6 cents increase).
Food Service Payment Rates for Day
Care Homes
The changes in the food service
payment rates for day care homes reflect
a 1.04 percent increase during the 12month period from May 2023 to May
2024 (from 302.535 in May 2023, as
previously published in the Federal
Register, to 305.679 in May 2024) in the
Food At Home series of the Consumer
Price Index for All Urban Consumers.
Payments for breakfast served are:
Contiguous States—Tier I—1 dollar and
66 cents (1 cent increase from the 2023–
2024 rate) and Tier II—60 cents (1 cents
increase); Alaska—Tier I—2 dollars and
66 cents (3 cents increase) and Tier II—
E:\FR\FM\10JYN1.SGM
10JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 132 (Wednesday, July 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56720-56724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15175]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
National School Lunch, Special Milk, and School Breakfast
Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This Notice announces the annual adjustments to the national
average payments, the amount of money the Federal Government provides
States for lunches, afterschool snacks, and breakfasts served to
children participating in the National School Lunch and School
Breakfast Programs; to the maximum reimbursement rates, the maximum per
lunch rate from Federal funds that a State can provide a school food
authority for lunches served to children participating in the National
School Lunch Program; and to the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint
of milk served to non-needy children in a school or institution that
participates in the Special Milk Program for Children. The annual
payments and rates adjustments for the National School Lunch and School
Breakfast Programs reflect changes in the Food Away From Home series of
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. The annual rate
adjustment for the Special Milk Program reflects changes in the
Producer Price Index for Fluid Milk Products. Further adjustments are
made to these rates to reflect higher costs of providing meals in
Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. The payments and
rates are prescribed on an annual basis each July.
DATES: These rates are in effect from July 1, 2024, through June 30,
2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Penny Burke, Branch Chief, Program
Monitoring and Operational Support Division, Child Nutrition Programs,
FNS USDA, 1320 Braddock Place, Suite 401, Alexandria, VA 22314, 303-
844-0357.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Special Milk Program for Children--Pursuant to section 3 of the
Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1772), the
Department announces
[[Page 56721]]
the rate of reimbursement for a half pint of milk served to non-needy
children in a school or institution that participates in the Special
Milk Program for Children. This rate is adjusted annually to reflect
changes in the Producer Price Index for Fluid Milk Products, published
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.
National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs--Pursuant to
sections 11 and 17A of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch
Act, (42 U.S.C. 1759a and 1766a), and section 4 of the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773), the Department annually announces the
adjustments to the National Average Payment Factors and to the maximum
Federal reimbursement rates for lunches and afterschool snacks served
to children participating in the National School Lunch Program and
breakfasts served to children participating in the School Breakfast
Program. Adjustments are prescribed each July 1, based on changes in
the Food Away From Home series of the Consumer Price Index for All
Urban Consumers, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the
Department of Labor.
Lunch Payment Levels--Section 4 of the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753) provides general cash for food
assistance payments to States to assist schools in purchasing food. The
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act provides two different
section 4 payment levels for lunches served under the National School
Lunch Program. The lower payment level applies to lunches served by
school food authorities in which less than 60 percent of the lunches
served in the school lunch program during the second preceding school
year were served free or at a reduced price. The higher payment level
applies to lunches served by school food authorities in which 60
percent or more of the lunches served during the second preceding
school year were served free or at a reduced price.
To supplement these section 4 payments, section 11 of the Richard
B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1759(a)) provides
special cash assistance payments to aid schools in providing free and
reduced-price lunches. The section 11 National Average Payment Factor
for each reduced-price lunch served is set at 40 cents less than the
factor for each free lunch.
As authorized under sections 8 and 11 of the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1757 and 1759a), maximum
reimbursement rates for each type of lunch are prescribed by the
Department in this Notice. These maximum rates are to ensure equitable
disbursement of Federal funds to school food authorities.
Performance-based Reimbursement--In addition to the funding
mentioned above, school food authorities certified as meeting the meal
pattern and nutrition standard requirements set forth in 7 CFR parts
210 and 220 are eligible to receive performance-based cash assistance
for each reimbursable lunch served (an additional nine cents per lunch
available beginning July 1, 2024, and adjusted annually thereafter).
Afterschool Snack Payments in Afterschool Care Programs--Section
17A of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C.
1766a) establishes National Average Payments for free, reduced price
and paid afterschool snacks as part of the National School Lunch
Program.
Breakfast Payment Factors--Section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of
1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) establishes National Average Payment Factors for
free, reduced price, and paid breakfasts served under the School
Breakfast Program and additional payments for free and reduced-price
breakfasts served in schools determined to be in ``severe need''
because they serve a high percentage of free and reduced eligible
children.
Adjusted Payments
The following specific section 4, section 11, and section 17A
National Average Payment Factors and maximum reimbursement rates for
lunch, the afterschool snack rates, and the breakfast rates are in
effect from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Due to a higher cost
of living, the average payments and maximum reimbursements for Alaska,
Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands are higher than those for
all other States. The District of Columbia uses figures specified for
the contiguous States. These rates do not include the value of USDA
Foods or cash-in-lieu of USDA Foods which schools receive as additional
assistance for each meal served to participants under the Program. A
notice announcing the value of USDA Foods and cash-in-lieu of USDA
Foods is published separately in the Federal Register.
Adjustments to the national average payment rates for all lunches
served under the National School Lunch Program, breakfasts served under
the School Breakfast Program, and afterschool snacks served under the
National School Lunch Program are rounded down to the nearest whole
cent.
Special Milk Program Payments
For the period July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, the rate of
reimbursement for a half pint of milk served to a non-needy child in a
school or institution that participates in the Special Milk Program is
27.00 cents. This change is based on the 2.91 percent increase in the
Producer Price Index for Fluid Milk Products from May 2023 to May 2024.
As a reminder, schools or institutions with pricing programs that
elect to serve milk free to eligible children continue to receive the
average cost of a half pint of milk (the total cost of all milk
purchased during the claim period divided by the total number of
purchased half pints) for each half pint served to an eligible child.
National School Lunch Program Payments
Overall, payments for the National School Lunch Program and the
Afterschool Snack Program increased due to a 4.03 percent increase in
the national average payment rates for schools and residential child
care institutions for the period July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025 in
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the Food Away From
Home series during the 12-month period May 2023 to May 2024 (from a
level of 352.892 in May 2023, as previously published in the Federal
Register to 367.099 in May 2024).
These changes are reflected below.
Section 4 National Average Payment Factors--In school food
authorities that served less than 60 percent free and reduced-price
lunches in School Year (SY) 2022-2023, the payments for meals served
are: Contiguous States--paid rate--42 cents (2 cents increase from the
2023-2024 rate), free and reduced price rate--42 cents (2 cents
increase), maximum rate--50 cents (2 cents increase); Alaska--paid
rate--69 cents (3 cents increase), free and reduced price rate--69
cents (3 cents increase), maximum rate--79 cents (3 cents increase);
Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands--paid rate--55 cents (2
cents increase), free and reduced price rate--55 cents (2 cents
increase), maximum rate--64 cents (3 cents increase).
In school food authorities that served 60 percent or more free and
reduced price lunches in School Year 2022-2023, payments are:
Contiguous States--paid rate--44 cents (2 cents increase), free and
reduced price rate--44 cents (2 cents increase), maximum rate--50 cents
(2 cents increase); Alaska--paid rate--71 cents (3 cents increase),
free and reduced price rate--
[[Page 56722]]
71 cents (3 cents increase), maximum rate--79 cents (3 cents increase);
Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands--paid rate--57 cents (2
cents increase), free and reduced price rate--57 cents (2 cents
increase), maximum rate--64 cents (3 cents increase).
School food authorities certified to receive the performance-based
cash assistance will receive an additional 9 cents (adjusted annually)
added to the above amounts as part of their section 4 payments.
Section 11 National Average Payment Factors--Contiguous States--
free lunch--4 dollars and 1 cent (16 cents increase from the SY 2023-
2024 rate), reduced price lunch--3 dollars and 61 cents (16 cents
increase); Alaska--free lunch--6 dollars and 49 cents (25 cents
increase), reduced price lunch--6 dollars and 9 cents (25 cents
increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands--free lunch--5
dollars and 21 cent (20 cents increase), reduced price lunch--4 dollars
and 81 cents (20 cents increase).
Afterschool Snacks in Afterschool Care Programs--The payments are:
Contiguous States--free snack--1 dollar and 21 cents (4 cents increase
from the SY 2023-2024), reduced price snack--60 cents (2 cents
increase), paid snack--11 cents (1 cent increase); Alaska--free snack--
1 dollar and 97 cents (8 cent increase), reduced price snack--98 cents
(4 cents increase), paid snack--18 cents (1 cent increase); Guam,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands--free snack--1 dollar and 58
cents (6 cents increase), reduced price snack--79 cents (3 cents
increase), paid snack--14 cents (1 cent increase).
School Breakfast Program Payments
Overall, payments for the National School Breakfast Program
increased due to a 4.03 percent increase in the national average
payment rates for schools and residential child care institutions for
the period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 in the Consumer Price
Index for All Urban Consumers in the Food Away from Home series during
the 12-month period May 2023 to May 2024 (from a level of 352.892 in
May 2023, as previously published in the Federal Register to 367.099 in
May 2024).
These changes are reflected below.
For schools ``not in severe need'' the payments are: Contiguous
States--free breakfast--2 dollars and 37 cents (9 cents increase from
the SY 2023-2024 rate), reduced price breakfast--2 dollars and 7 cents
(9 cents increase), paid breakfast--39 cents (1 cent increase); Alaska
free breakfast--3 dollars and 80 cents (14 cents increase), reduced
price breakfast--3 dollars and 50 cents (14 cents increase), paid
breakfast--60 cents (2 cents increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and
Virgin Islands--free breakfast--3 dollars and 6 cents (11 cents
increase), reduced price breakfast--2 dollars and 76 cents (11 cents
increase), paid breakfast--49 cents (2 cents increase).
For schools in ``severe need'' the payments are: Contiguous
States--free breakfast--2 dollars and 84 cents (11 cents increase from
the SY 2023-2024), reduced price breakfast--2 dollars and 54 cents (11
cents increase), paid breakfast--39 cents (1 cent increase); Alaska--
free breakfast--4 dollars and 56 cents (17 cents increase), reduced
price breakfast--4 dollars and 26 cents (17 cents increase), paid
breakfast--60 cents (2 cents increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and
Virgin Islands--free breakfast--3 dollars and 67 cents (14 cents
increase), reduced price breakfast--3 dollars and 37 cents (14 cents
increase), paid breakfast--49 cents (2 cents increase).
Payment Chart
The following chart illustrates the lunch National Average Payment
Factors with the sections 4 and 11 already combined to indicate the per
lunch amount; the maximum lunch reimbursement rates; the reimbursement
rates for afterschool snacks served in afterschool care programs; the
breakfast National Average Payment Factors including severe need
schools; and the milk reimbursement rate. All amounts are expressed in
dollars or fractions thereof. The payment factors and reimbursement
rates used for the District of Columbia are those specified for the
contiguous States.
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
[[Page 56723]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10JY24.021
This action is not a rule as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility
Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) and thus is exempt from the provisions of that
Act. This notice has been determined to be exempt under Executive Order
12866.
[[Page 56724]]
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3507), no new recordkeeping or reporting requirements have been
included that are subject to approval from the Office of Management and
Budget.
National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Special Milk Programs
are listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under No.
10.555, No. 10.553, and No. 10.556, respectively, and are subject to
the provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires
intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials (See 2
CFR 415.3-415.6).
Authority: Sections 4, 8, 11, and 17A of the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 1753, 1757, 1759a,
1766a) and sections 3 and 4(b) of the Child Nutrition Act, as amended,
(42 U.S.C. 1772 and 42 U.S.C. 1773(b)).
Cynthia Long,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-15175 Filed 7-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C
