[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37733-37737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15107]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 the Virgin Islands. The payments
and rates are prescribed on an annual basis each July. Overall,
reimbursement rates this year for the National School Lunch, Breakfast
Programs and the Special Milk Program either remained the same or
increased compared to last year.
Special Note: For the school year beginning July 1, 2021 and ending
June 30, 2022, school food authorities operating the National School
Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option under Food and Nutrition Service-
issued nationwide waivers #85 (Nationwide Waiver to Allow the Seamless
Summer Option through School Year 2021-2022) and #86 (Nationwide Waiver
to Allow Summer Food Service Program Reimbursement Rates in School Year
2021-2022) may receive the reimbursement rates prescribed for the
Summer Food Service Program (85 FR 86901) in lieu of the reimbursement
rates established in this notice. The Summer Food Service Program
reimbursement rates made available to these school food authorities
will similarly be updated effective January 1, 2022 through a future
notice published in the Federal Register.
DATES: These rates are effective from July 1, 2021 through June 30,
2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J. Kevin Maskornick, Branch Chief,
Program Monitoring and Operational Support Division, Child Nutrition
Programs, Food and Nutrition Service, United States Department of
Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, Suite
[[Page 37734]]
401, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703-305-2537.
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 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 seven cents per lunch
available beginning July 1, 2019, 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 needy 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, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Due to a higher cost of
living, the average payments and maximum reimbursements for Alaska,
Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the 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, 2021 through June 30, 2022, 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
22.00 cents reflecting an increase of 1.75 cents from the School Year
(SY) 2020-2021 level. This change is based on the 9.44 percent increase
in the Producer Price Index for Fluid Milk Products from May 2020 to
May 2021.
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 either remained the same or increased from
last year's payments due to a 4.04 percent increase in the national
average payment rates for schools and residential child care
institutions for the period July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 in the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the food away from
home series during the 12-month period May 2020 to May 2021 (from a
level of 291.709 in May 2020, as previously published in the Federal
Register to 303.481 in May 2021).
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) 2019-2020, the payments for meals served
are: Contiguous States--paid rate--35 cents (2 cents increase from the
SY 2020--2021 level), free and reduced price rate--35 cents (2 cents
increase), maximum rate--43 cents (2 cents increase); Alaska--paid
rate--57 cents (3 cents increase), free and reduced price rate--57
cents (3 cents increase), maximum rate--68 cents (3 cents increase);
Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands--paid rate--41 cents
(2 cents increase), free and reduced price rate--41 cents (2 cents
[[Page 37735]]
increase), maximum rate--49 cents (2 cents increase).
In school food authorities that served 60 percent or more free and
reduced price lunches in School Year 2019-2020, payments are:
Contiguous States--paid rate--37 cents (2 cents increase from the SY
2020-2021 level), free and reduced price rate--37 cents (2 cents
increase), maximum rate--43 cents (2 cents increase); Alaska--paid
rate--59 cents (3 cents increase), free and reduced price rate--59
cents (3 cents increase), maximum rate--68 cents (3 cents increase);
Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands--paid rate--43 cents
(2 cents increase), free and reduced price rate--43 cents (2 cents
increase), maximum rate--49 cents (2 cents increase).
School food authorities certified to receive the performance-based
cash assistance will receive an additional 7 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--3 dollars and 31 cents (13 cents increase from the SY 2020-
2021 level), reduced price lunch--2 dollars and 91 cents (13 cents
increase); Alaska--free lunch--5 dollars and 37 cents (21 cents
increase), reduced price lunch--4 dollars and 97 cents (21 cents
increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands--free
lunch--3 dollars and 87 cents (15 cents increase), reduced price
lunch--3 dollars and 47 cents (15 cents increase).
Afterschool Snacks in Afterschool Care Programs--The payments are:
Contiguous States--free snack--1 dollar and 0 cents (4 cents increase
from the SY 2020-2021 level), reduced price snack--50 cents (2 cents
increase), paid snack--9 cents (1 cent increase); Alaska--free snack -1
dollar and 63 cents (7 cents increase), reduced price snack--81 cents
(3 cents increase), paid snack--14 cents (no change); Guam, Hawaii,
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands--free snack--1 dollar and 17 cents
(4 cents increase), reduced price snack--58 cents (2 cent increase),
paid snack--10 cents (no change).
School Breakfast Program Payments
Overall, payments for the National School Breakfast Program either
remained the same or increased from last year's payments due to a 4.04
percent increase in the national average payment rates for schools and
residential child care institutions for the period July 1, 2021 through
June 30, 2022 in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers in
the Food Away from Home series during the 12-month period May 2020 to
May 2021 (from a level of 291.709 in May 2020, as previously published
in the Federal Register to 303.481 in May 2021).
These changes are reflected below.
For schools ``not in severe need'' the payments are: Contiguous
States--free breakfast--1 dollar and 97 cents (8 cents increase from
the SY 2020-2021 level), reduced price breakfast--1 dollar and 67 cents
(8 cents increase), paid breakfast--33 cents (1 cent increase);
Alaska--free breakfast--3 dollars and 15 cents (12 cents increase),
reduced price breakfast--2 dollars and 85 cents (12 cents increase),
paid breakfast--50 cents (1 cent increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands--free breakfast--2 dollars and 29 cents (8 cents
increase), reduced price breakfast--1 dollar and 99 cents (8 cents
increase), paid breakfast--38 cents (1 cent increase).
For schools in ``severe need'' the payments are: Contiguous
States--free breakfast--2 dollars and 35 cents (9 cents increase from
the SY 2020-2021 level), reduced price breakfast--2 dollars and 5 cents
(9 cents increase), paid breakfast--33 cents (1 cent increase);
Alaska--free breakfast--3 dollars and 78 cents (14 cents increase),
reduced price breakfast--3 dollars and 48 cents (14 cents increase),
paid breakfast--50 cents (1 cent increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands--free breakfast--2 dollars and 74 cents (10
cents increase), reduced price breakfast--2 dollars and 44 cents (10
cents increase), paid breakfast--38 cents (1 cent 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 37736]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16JY21.000
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C
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
[[Page 37737]]
been determined to be exempt under Executive Order 12866.
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,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-15107 Filed 7-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P