Article 10.7 - Comprehensive Nutrition Services

California Education Code — §§ 49547-49548.3

Sections (5)

Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 948, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1993.

(a)The Legislature finds and declares as follows:

(1)Proper nutrition for children is a matter of the highest state priority.

(2)There is a demonstrated relationship between the good nutrition practices on a year-round basis and the capacity of children to develop and learn.

(3)Teaching the principles of good nutrition in schools is urgently needed to assist children at all income levels in developing proper eating habits that are essential for lifelong good health and productivity.

(b)The Legislature finds and declares that it is essential that schools, local governing boards, parents, and communities provide leadership and support for the establishment of nutrition program services for children on a year-round basis. The nutritional needs of children must continue to be met when school is not in session.

(c)The Legislature further recognizes the need to establish a permanent funding plan in order to provide qualifying local agencies with continuous financial support for the operation of child nutrition programs.

§ 49547.5

Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 600, Sec. 14. (SB 348) Effective January 1, 2024.

(a)The Legislature finds and declares the following:

(1)Needy children rely upon school meals for supplemental nutrition that benefits their health, growth, and academic and social development.

(2)Existing federal law, Section 1761 of Title 42 of the United States Code, establishes the Summer Food Service Program. This program provides assistance to states to support the operation of nonprofit food service programs for needy children during those times of the year when free and reduced-price school meals are not available.

(b)The State Department of Education is designated the state agency

for purposes of the Summer Food Service Program (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1761) and shall submit to the Western Regional Office of the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture a program management and administration plan. If the plan is approved, the department shall manage and administer the program.

(c)The provisions of Sections 49501.5, 49536, 49550, and 49559 do not apply to the Summer Food Service Program, as set forth in this section.

§ 49548

Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 76, Sec. 44. (AB 383) Effective January 1, 2014.

(a)The state board, in order to effect compliance with legislative findings expressed in Section 49547, shall restrict the criteria for the issuance of waivers from the requirements of Section 49550 to feed children during a summer school session. A waiver shall be granted for a period not to exceed one year if either of the following conditions exists:

(1)(A) A summer school session serving pupils enrolled in elementary school, as defined in clause (iii), shall be granted a waiver if a Summer Food Service Program for Children site is available within one-half mile of the schoolsite and either of the following conditions exists:

(i)The hours of operation of the Summer Food

Service Program for Children site commence no later than one-half hour after the completion of the summer school session day.

(ii) The hours of operation of the Summer Food Service Program for Children site conclude no earlier than one hour after the completion of the summer school session day.

(iii) For purposes of this subdivision, “elementary school” means a public school that maintains kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 8, inclusive.

(B) A summer school session serving pupils enrolled in middle school, junior high school, or high school shall be granted a waiver if a Summer Food Service Program for Children site is available within one mile of the schoolsite and either of the following conditions exists:

(i)The hours of operation of the Summer Food

Service Program for Children site commence no later than one-half hour after the completion of the summer school session day.

(ii) The hours of operation of the Summer Food Service Program for Children site conclude no earlier than one hour after the completion of the summer school session day.

(2)(A) Serving meals during the summer school session would result in a financial loss to the school district, documented in a financial analysis performed by the school district, in an amount equal to one-third of net cash resources, as defined in Section 210.2 of Part 210 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which, for purposes of this article, shall exclude funds that are encumbered. If there are no net cash resources, an amount equal to the operating costs of one month as averaged over the summer school sessions.

(B)The financial analysis required by subparagraph (A) shall include a projection of future meal program participation based on either of the following:

(i)Commencement of a meal service period after the commencement of the summer school session day and conclusion of a meal service period before the completion of the summer school session day.

(ii) Operation of a schoolsite as an open Summer Seamless Option or a Summer Food Service Program for Children site, and providing adequate notification thereof, including flyers and banners, in order to fulfill community needs under the Summer Food Service Program for Children (7 C.F.R. 225.14(d)(3)).

(3)The entire summer school day is two hours or less in duration.

(b)The state board and the Superintendent shall provide leadership to encourage and support schools and public agencies to participate in the Summer Food Service Program for Children, consistent with the intent of Section 49504.

(c)An application for a waiver shall be submitted no later than 60 days before the last regular meeting of the state board before the commencement of the summer school session for which the waiver is sought.

§ 49548.2

Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 948, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1993.

(a)The State Department of Education shall seek federal statutory amendments as follows:

(1)To cause the Summer Food Service Program for Children to become more compatible with the National School Lunch Program by defining “enrollment” to allow flexibility in the eligibility criteria for the National School Lunch Program in order that more children can be served during school vacation periods under an ongoing school lunch-breakfast program.

(2)To specifically authorize California to be a pilot for universal year-round feeding under the concept of comprehensive child nutrition programs.

(b)The State Department of Education shall work to expand coordinated services for children to include comprehensive nutrition program services.

§ 49548.3

Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 948, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1993.

The State Department of Education shall invite the United States Department of Agriculture to join the Child Nutrition and Food Distribution Division in its annual workshops and conferences to present information on the Summer Food Service Program for Children. The State Department of Education shall integrate information on the Summer Food Service Program for Children into nutritional activities, presentations, and contacts with professional groups, including the Association of California School Administrators, California Association of School Business Officials, California School Food Service Association, California Dietetic Association, and California Nutrition Council. In addition, the State Department of Education shall:

(a)Assist the United States Department of Agriculture in preparing and distributing outreach materials and presentations on the Summer Food Service Program for Children that target schools, public and private nonprofit agencies, including soup kitchens, homeless feeding sites, and other charitable institutions.

(b)Obtain from the United States Department of Agriculture the profile of participating agencies and then work cooperatively with that department in targeting those underserved areas for intensive outreach efforts.

(c)Establish linkages with other agencies and organizations to facilitate increasing the number of Summer Food Service Program for Children sponsors. These agencies may include, but not be limited to, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, League of California Cities, County Supervisors Association of California, California Hunger Action Coalition, and other organizations.