SAMPLE LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE FOR AFTERSCHOOL MEALS
ALLOCATE FUNDING
Section I: (1) The Department of Education of the State of XX shall provide assistance to school districts,
government agencies, and community groups to encourage participation in the United States
Department of Agriculture’s Afterschool Meals Program that provides meals and snacks at at-risk afterschool care centers.
(2) In addition to the assistance provided under subsection (1) of this section, the department may
award grants to school districts, government agencies and community groups to encourage participation
in the United States Department of Agriculture’s Afterschool Meals Program that provides meals and
snacks at at-risk after-school care centers. Each grant may not exceed $XX,XXX and must be used to:
(a) Purchase or upgrade necessary equipment and services required to provide food service and
meet sanitation requirements;
(b) Make any payments necessary to comply with sanitation requirements that may be required
prior to approval; [and] or
(c) Fund participant outreach activities and materials and necessary enrichment activities and
materials.
(3) The Department may enter into a contract with a public or private entity for the purposes of the
entity providing:
(a) Technical assistance to applicants for and recipients of grants; and
(b) Administration of the grant program
ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION
Resolution
WHEREAS, More than XX% of children in [state] are food insecure, meaning they do not have
consistent access to adequate food; and [state] ranks XX in the nation for childhood hunger; and
WHEREAS, No child deserves to go without food, and children who are food insecure suffer from
increased risk of chronic diseases, increased rates of behavioral problems, decreased academic
achievement, and long-term social and economic impacts; and
WHEREAS, Federal nutrition programs play a pivotal role in helping low-income children access
free, healthy meals, including the Child and Adult Care Food Program Afterschool Meals Programs; and
WHEREAS, Afterschool Program sites are an ideal model for meal service and provide on-site
adult supervision and enrichment activities for children; however, more Afterschool Meals Program sites
are needed that are open to students after the school day ends; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That we encourage eligible providers, including schools and public or private nonprofit organizations, to participate in At-Risk Afterschool Meals Programs; be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage Summer Food Service Program Providers to operate the At-Risk
Afterschool Meals Program so that all children can access healthy meals throughout the school year.
Mandate
Section I: (1) Each school district shall develop a plan to sponsor an afterschool meals program and
operate sites in the school district as follows:
(a) Within 5 miles of at least one elementary school at which 50 percent or more of the students are
eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.
(b) The school district may encourage not-for-profit entities to sponsor the program at school sites.
(2) The superintendent of schools may collaborate with municipal and county governmental agencies
and private, not-for-profit leaders in implementing the plan. By October 15 of each year, each school
district with an afterschool meals program shall report to the department the district’s afterschool
nutrition program sites in compliance with this section.