Child Nutrition Services
The Arkansas Department of Education Child Nutrition Unit administers the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Special Milk Program, the Afterschool Snack Program, the Seamless Summer Program and the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Grants in the public schools in Arkansas.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations, the Child Nutrition Unit provides technical assistance, training, monitoring, and processes claims for reimbursement of federal funds used in the operation of local school nutrition programs. Approximately $165 million federal dollars are disbursed to public school districts for reimbursable meals served to students.
Approximately $2 million in state funds is paid as required state matching to each district either by payment of deliveries for USDA donated foods or as a per lunch match for the total lunches served by school districts in the previous school year.
The federal Child Nutrition Programs in Arkansas schools have a total economic impact of $224 million on the economy of the state including local, state and federal funds.
The Child Nutrition Services has its own website at http://cnn.k12.ar.us.