The Road to June 30: Everything You Need to Know

What is the Keep Kids Fed Act?

In 2022, the USDA was given the power by Congress to provide schools and meal program operators with the necessary flexibility to keep feeding children. Despite the pandemic being under control, issues such as increased food insecurity and supply chain disruptions persisted. To address this, the Keep Kids Fed Act, led by Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member John Boozman, was extended for another year to offer support and flexibility for schools and meal providers facing food cost spikes.

What did the Keep Kids Fed Act do?

• Extended USDA’s authority to issue nationwide waivers that increased Federal costs for summer meal programs through September 2022.
• Provided temporary additional reimbursements for the school year 2022-2023 (SY 22-23) of:
  • 40 cents per lunch served through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP);
  • 15 cents per breakfast served through the School Breakfast Program (SBP); and
  • 10 cents per meal or snack served in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which includes the At-Risk Afterschool Program.
• Provided all CACFP family day care homes with the higher “Tier 1” reimbursement rate for SY 22-23.
• Allowed USDA to issue limited nationwide waivers that do not increase Federal costs during SY 22-23.

What about now?

When the Keep Kids Fed Act expires, the Tier II reimbursement rates for all Family Day Care Homes will be reinstated, and the additional 10 cents per meal or snack served in the CACFP will no longer be available. Some may question whether participating in the program is worthwhile if the reimbursement doesn’t cover the full cost of food expenses. However, many providers are realizing the potential of using the reimbursement to invest in their business and help it grow. Here are some compelling reasons to consider joining or staying in the Food Program.

Why should I join or stay in the Food Program?

Reimbursement:

Think of being on the Food Program as having a job. The program pays you to do some paperwork, but if you weren’t enrolled, you’d still have to plan menus, buy ingredients, cook meals, and serve them. So how much are you being paid per hour for the paperwork required by the Food Program?

For example, if you spend three hours per week on paperwork, that’s 156 hours per year. If you care for six children and receive the lower Tier II rate (which was $0.56 for breakfast, $1.78 for lunch, and $0.25 for a snack for each child every day in 2022 without the KKFA), this equates to $4,038 per year ($673 per child x 6). Your hourly rate would be $25.88 per hour ($4,038 divided by 156 hours).

What could you do with that $4,038? Reimbursement is one of the best ways to get money back for work you’re already doing. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your space or needing extra cash to make your overtime worth it, claiming reimbursements can make a significant difference. It’s also one of the highest returns you’ll get – earning $4,038 in claim reimbursement would require enrolling six new students. If you’re already serving meals and snacks, claiming reimbursement is an easy and quick way to increase revenue.

If you want to boost your hourly earnings, consider using software like KidKare for electronic recordkeeping. By doing that you could…

A sponsoring organization in Texas was using a paper-based process to collect meals counts and attendance. But by changing to an electronic meal count & attendance process in KidKare they were able to save their center directors 10 hours of work each month and reduce reporting errors by 30%. 

KidKare eliminates the need for paperwork in the Food Program and offers software solutions that simplify claims processing and maximize reimbursements. Our software is trusted by 75,000 sponsors, owners, directors, sites, and providers. Using KidKare can save you hours on paperwork, leaving you with more time to focus on your program and your students.

Nutritional education:

Participating in the Food Program has other benefits beyond financial support. It provides access to training and technical assistance, which can help providers improve the quality of their meals and snacks. It also ensures that children and adults receive nutritious meals that meet dietary guidelines.

Attract new families:

Being a part of the Food Program can help providers attract more families to their programs. Many parents prioritize healthy meal options when choosing childcare or afterschool programs for their children. By participating in the CACFP, providers can advertise that they offer healthy meals and snacks that meet national nutrition standards.