Nutrition Environment and Services Domain
Nutrition Environment and Services Domain
- Since 2020, Connecticut has passed 5 bills that mandate the State Department of Education (SDE) to ensure the promotion of a healthy nutrition environment. In addition, SDE administers 11 programs (all federally regulated) that support student nutrition.
- Of the 5 bills and 11 programs, only one appears to have been addressed in state legislation between 2020-2024. The School Breakfast program has a legislative report from one bill that requires SDE to increase their outreach for the program to increase the participation of students in the program.
- A summary of the legislative and initiative efforts in CT related to the community involvement domain is depicted below, with each program hyperlinked for further information.
State Legislation (2020 - 2025)
2024
- Public Act No. 24-82
- Requires SDE to administer a child nutrition outreach program to increase participation in the federal School Breakfast Program, federal Summer Food Service Program and federal Child and Adult Care Food Program.
- Public Act Summary
- Public Act No. 24-74
- The bill pushes out the start date for SDE’s wholesome school meals pilot program, which awards five grants to embed a professional chef in five alliance school districts.
- Public Act Summary
2023
- Public Act No. 23-1
- Reallocates $60 million in FY 23 ARPA funds allocated to OPM for Invest Connecticut to SDE for free school meals for students.
- Public Act Summary
- Public Act No. 23-167
- Requires SDE to administer a wholesome school meals pilot program to award five grants to alliance districts to embed a professional chef in the district to assist school meal programs.
- Public Act Summary
2021
- Public Act No. 21-46
- Requires SDE, no later than December 1, 2021, to develop a document for use by local and regional boards of education that provides information on the educational, safety, mental health and food insecurity resources and programs available for students and their families.
- Public Act Summary
State Programs
All State Programs
- After School Snack Program (ASP)
- The ASP provides reimbursements to schools to help them serve snacks to children participating in afterschool activities.
- Child and Adult Care Food Program
- The CACFP provides nutritious meals and snacks to infants and children in child care centers, family day care homes, and emergency shelters; and snacks and suppers to children in eligible afterschool care programs.
- Farm to School
- This program provides students with enriching activities (e.g., through field trips and education) while also providing school cafeterias with healthy meals with the aim of improving student nutrition.
- Food Distribution Program (FDP)
- FDP is a national program administered by SDE to provide food assistance to school children and their families.
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
- This program helps provide students with a variety of different options of fresh fruit and vegetables during the school day.
- National School Lunch Program
- This national program provides students with nutritionally balanced meals at school at no cost, reduced price, or low cost.
- School Breakfast Program
- This federally assisted meal program provides students with a nutritionally balanced breakfast at school at no cost, reduced price, or low cost.
- Special Milk Program
- The SMP reimburses the price of milk served for schools who do not participate in other USDA child nutrition programs.
- Summer Food Service Program
- The SFSP provides free breakfasts and lunches for students during the summer.
- Summer Option for NSLP
- The SSO is implemented to make it easier for schools to provide low-income children with meals over summer break by reducing the administrative burden.
Click on the buttons below to access legislation pages for the other WSCC domains:
