Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Meal Programs - CalEdFacts

This content is part of California Department of Education's information and media guide about education in the State of California. For similar information on other topics, visit the full CalEdFacts.

On an average day in California, over 4 million nutritious meals are served at over 12,000 locations. These meals are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, and the Summer Food Service Program. The California Department of Education (CDE) disburses over $4 billion in federal and state funds to support schools, parks, and other eligible community agencies in providing nutritious meals and snacks. In 2022–23, the CDE distributed over $232 million in USDA Foods to eligible public and private nonprofit agencies throughout the state for use in preparing meals.

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, June 05, 2024
Related Content
  • After School
    Provides after school program operators with background information, a comparison chart of available programs, meal pattern charts, directions on how to apply, claiming instructions, policy guidance, resources, and more.
  • Food Programs
    Child nutrition programs data and statistics, including county profiles, free and reduced price data, school meal nutrition analysis, and summer meal service sites.
  • School Nutrition
    Meal and milk programs offered at public and private non-profit schools and residential child care institutions.
  • Summer Meal Programs
    Federal meal programs for children from low-income areas during vacation and off-track periods, including summertime.
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • Direct Certification Requirements in the SNPs (added 13-Mar-2025)
    This MB includes the recent updates to EC Section 49501.5 explaining the requirements for all public school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education to conduct direct certification monthly through the CALPADS. Tab for Listserv to p
  • Direct Certification Requirements in the SNPs (added 07-Mar-2025)
    This management bulletin supersedes management bulletins 00-102 and NSD-SNP-08-2012 regarding direct certification (DC) requirements for local educational agencies (LEA) participating in the federal School Nutrition Programs (SNP).
  • Universal Benefits Application Now Available (added 07-Mar-2025)
    Universal Benefits Application Now Available - Use for SUN Bucks Eligibility.
  • National Nutrition Month 2025 (added 25-Feb-2025)
    The Nutrition Services Division encourages program operators to celebrate National Nutrition Month and National School Breakfast Week.
  • Nutrition Services Division New Learning Site (added 21-Feb-2025)
    This new learning management system will be used as the primary venue for delivering training content to satisfy your annual mandatory training hours for Professional Standards and beyond.

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture Requests Feedback (added 21-Feb-2025)
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service is seeking voluntary feedback through an online survey pertaining to the USDA Foods in Schools Product Information Sheets and the USDA Foods Database.
  • Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency (added 21-Feb-2025)
    Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency in Santa Cruz County due to Winter Storms.
  • Summer Food Service Program Annual Updates (added 21-Feb-2025)
    Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) annual updates for program year 2025.
  • Farm to School Needs Assessment 2025 (added 18-Feb-2025)
    The Nutrition Services Division (NSD) seeks to understand the resources and support you need to start, sustain, or expand your Farm to School efforts.
  • 2025–26 FFVP Request for Applications Available (added 14-Feb-2025)
    The CDE NSD announces a grant opportunity for elementary schools to participate in the FFVP. The FFVP grant period is July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026. All eligible agencies, both current FFVP grantees and new applicants, must respond online to this RFA.