Providing Nutritious Milk to Children

The Special Milk Program (SMP) provides milk to children in schools and childcare institutions who do not participate in other federal meal service programs. The program reimburses schools for the milk they serve. Schools in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs may also participate in the Special Milk Program to provide milk to children in half-day pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs where children do not have access to the school meal programs.

Program Factsheet Program Contacts

school nutrition professional carrying a carton of milk in a walk-in cooler

What's New?

photo of school nutrition professionals signing forms

Child Nutrition: Program Integrity Final Rule

FNS published a final rule on program integrity to ensure that child nutrition programs are properly operated and managed to protect federal funds and taxpayer dollars.

USDA's Focus on Nutrition Security

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service is working to ensure all communities have access to foods that support good health and well-being. Watch our video, which highlights how FNS nutrition assistance programs help all Americans thrive.

Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security

Special Milk Program Resources

Policy

Legislation Policy Memos Regulations View all

Technical Assistance & Guidance

Fact Sheets FAQs/Q&As Forms Grants Instructions Handbooks Nutrition Education Technical Assistance Training Webinars/Videos View all

Research, Analysis & Background

Data Research View all

Special Milk Program

Providing Nutritious Milk to Children

What's New?

Child Nutrition Tables

Child Nutrition: Program Integrity Final Rule

Initial Implementation Memo: Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule

Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule

Final Rule: Child Nutrition Program Integrity

Results of USDA's FNS-Administered SFA Survey II on Supply Chain Disruption and Student Participation

National School Lunch, Special Milk and School Breakfast Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024)

School Meals Application Materials in Spanish

Determining Eligibility for Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk

Oversight and Monitoring of the School Meals Programs- Information Regarding Onsite and Offsite Strategies and Options

Comment Request: State Administrative Expense Funds

Questions and Answers on Alternate Protein Products

CN Flexibilities for Summer 2022 and School Year 2022-23

National School Lunch, Special Milk, and School Breakfast Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates

Comment Request: Special Milk Program for Children

Support for Child Nutrition Program Operators

Spotlights

Child Nutrition: Program Integrity Final Rule

USDA's Focus on Nutrition Security

Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security

Special Milk Program Resources

Policy

Technical Assistance & Guidance

Research, Analysis & Background

Special Milk Program

Providing Nutritious Milk to Children

What's New?

Child Nutrition Tables

Child Nutrition: Program Integrity Final Rule

Initial Implementation Memo: Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule

Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule

Final Rule: Child Nutrition Program Integrity

Results of USDA's FNS-Administered SFA Survey II on Supply Chain Disruption and Student Participation

National School Lunch, Special Milk and School Breakfast Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024)

School Meals Application Materials in Spanish

Determining Eligibility for Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk

Oversight and Monitoring of the School Meals Programs- Information Regarding Onsite and Offsite Strategies and Options

Comment Request: State Administrative Expense Funds

Questions and Answers on Alternate Protein Products

CN Flexibilities for Summer 2022 and School Year 2022-23

National School Lunch, Special Milk, and School Breakfast Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates

Comment Request: Special Milk Program for Children

Support for Child Nutrition Program Operators

Spotlights

Child Nutrition: Program Integrity Final Rule

USDA's Focus on Nutrition Security

Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security

Special Milk Program Resources

Policy

Technical Assistance & Guidance

Research, Analysis & Background

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