School Lunch Bucks Get a Routine Refresh for 2025
Published Date: 8/15/2025
Notice
Summary
Starting July 1, 2025, schools and care programs will get updated values for donated foods or cash to help serve meals in the 2025-2026 school year. This change affects the National School Lunch Program and the Child and Adult Care Food Program, making sure they get the right support to feed kids and adults. The new values help plan budgets and keep tasty, healthy meals coming!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Updated donated-food value for school lunches
Starting July 1, 2025, and running through June 30, 2026, the Department of Agriculture sets the national average value of donated foods (or cash in lieu) for each lunch served by schools in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Schools will use that per-lunch value to plan budgets and support meal service during the 2025–2026 school year.
Updated donated-food value for child and adult care meals
For the period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, the national average value of donated foods (or cash in lieu) is announced for each lunch and each supper served by institutions in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). CACFP institutions will apply that per-meal value when planning budgets and providing meals in the 2025–2026 program year.
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Key Dates
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