Vermont § 4017 - Universal meals supplement

§ 4017. Universal meals supplement

• (a) Definition. For the purpose of this section, “universal meals supplement” has the same meaning
  as that term has in subdivision 1261a(5) of this title. (b) Public schools. From State funds appropriated to the Agency from the Education Fund for the universal
  meals supplement, the Agency shall provide a universal meals supplement for the cost
  of each meal actually provided to each student in the district during the previous
  quarter when meals are offered to all students at no charge pursuant to subdivision 1264(a)(1)(B) of this title. (1) Reimbursement from State funds shall be available only to districts that maximize
  access to federal funds for the cost of the school breakfast and lunch program by
  participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, under 7 C.F.R. § 245.9(f), or Provision 2, under 7 C.F.R. § 245.9(b), of these programs, or any other federal provision that in the opinion of the Agency
  draws down the most possible federal funding for meals served in that program. At
  the start of each school year, the Agency of Education may require that a school food
  authority requesting the universal meals supplement begin a new cycle of the relevant
  federal provision and group sites in a manner the Agency determines will maximize
  the drawdown of federal funds. (2) Second breakfasts, as allowed under 7 C.F.R. § 220.9(a), do not qualify for reimbursement under this subsection. (3) A nonprofit prequalified private prekindergarten provider that is qualified pursuant
  to subsection 829(c) of this title and is not also an approved or recognized independent school is eligible for the
  universal meals supplement under this subsection if it operates a food program under
  a public school school food authority. (c) Approved independent schools. (1) From State funds appropriated to the Agency from the Education Fund for the universal
  meals supplement, the Agency shall provide a universal meals supplement for the cost
  of each meal actually provided to each qualifying student on public tuition when meals
  are offered to all students at no charge pursuant to subdivision 1264(a)(1)(B) of this title, provided that: (A) If the approved independent school participates in the food programs as a site under
  a public school school food authority, the public school school food authority shall
  be reimbursed only for students attending the approved independent school on public
  tuition. (B) If the approved independent school participates in the Community Eligibility Provision
  under 7 C.F.R. § 245.9(f), or is in a year other than the base year of Provision 2 under 7 C.F.R. § 245.9(b), the school shall provide the Agency with the number of students attending the school
  on public tuition and the total number of students enrolled in the school. The Agency
  shall calculate the percentage of students attending the school on public tuition
  and multiply that number by the paid student percentage, the results of which shall
  be the number of meals the school shall be reimbursed for. (2) Second breakfasts, as allowed under 7 C.F.R. § 220.9(a), do not qualify for reimbursement under this subsection. (3) Students attending an approved independent school on public tuition shall include
  a prekindergarten child if the approved independent school also qualifies as a prequalified
  private provider and the child’s school district of residence pays tuition to the
  school pursuant to section 829 of this title. (4) An approved independent school is eligible for the universal meals supplement only
  if it operates a food program that makes available a school lunch, as provided in
  the National School Lunch Act as amended, and a school breakfast, as provided in the
  Child Nutrition Act as amended, to each attending student who qualifies for those
  meals under these acts every school day. (5) Reimbursement from State funds shall be available only to approved independent schools
  that maximize access to federal funds for the cost of the school breakfast and lunch
  program by participating in the Community Eligibility Provision under 7 C.F.R. § 245.9(f), or Provision 2 under 7 C.F.R. § 245.9(b), of these programs, or any other federal provision that in the opinion of the Agency
  draws down the most possible federal funding for meals served in that program. At
  the start of each school year, the Agency of Education may require that a school food
  authority requesting the universal meals supplement begin a new cycle of the relevant
  federal provision and group sites in a manner the Agency determines will maximize
  the drawdown of federal funds. (d) Universal meals supplement. The universal meals supplement amount for breakfast shall be a sum equal to the federal
  reimbursement rate for a free school breakfast less the federal reimbursement rate
  for a paid school breakfast, using rates identified annually by the Agency of Education
  from payment levels established annually by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The
  universal meals supplement amount for lunch shall be a sum equal to the federal reimbursement
  rate for a free school lunch less the federal reimbursement rate for a paid school
  lunch, using rates identified annually by the Agency of Education from payment levels
  established annually by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Added 2023, No. 64, § 3, eff. July 1, 2023.)