Colorado School Nutrition Programs
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Afterschool Care Snack Program (ACSP) |
The intent of the Afterschool Care Snack Program (ACSP) is to assist schools that operate organized programs of care, which include education and enrichment activities known to help reduce or prevent children’s involvement in juvenile crime or other high risk behavior, by providing snacks. Eligible programs serving snacks to children that meet USDA requirements may be claimed for reimbursement.
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Emergency Feeding |
School Food Authorities (SFAs) participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs (NSLP and SBP) and sponsors participating in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) can respond to situations resulting from damage or disruptions due to natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and floods.
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Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) |
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides children in participating schools with a variety of free fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the school day. The program is an effective and creative way of introducing fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options. The FFVP also encourages schools to develop partnerships at the State and local level for support in implementing and operating the program. This program is seen as an important catalyst for change in efforts to combat childhood obesity by helping children learn more healthful eating habits. The FFVP introduces school children to a variety of produce that they otherwise might not have had the opportunity to sample.
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National School Lunch Program (NSLP) |
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is the oldest and largest of the Child Nutrition Programs, celebrating 50 years in 1996. It is a federally assisted meal program that provides balanced, low-cost or free lunches to thousands of children in Colorado each day.
Since 1946, the National School Lunch Program has made it possible for schools to serve appealing lunches designed to meet the needs of children. In recent years, concerns have emerged regarding the overall nutritional content of school meals. These concerns address findings that the diet of Americans has changed from being low in nutrients and adequate in calories to containing an overabundance of calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. At the same time, Americans eat too few grains, fruits and vegetables. A good diet can help to reduce the occurrence of chronic diseases and promote good health and well being.
The USDA School Meals Initiative for Healthy Children underscores our national responsibility to provide healthy school meals that are consistent with the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
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Provision 2 |
Provision 2 is a type of school meal eligibility that operates on a 4-year cycle. During the first year of Provision 2, known as the base year, the school serves all children meals at no charge regardless of the children’s free, reduced price or paid eligibility category, but otherwise operates the meal programs under standard procedures. The most significant difference between Provision 2 schools and those not operating under Provision 2 is that Provision 2 schools must offer reimbursable meals to all participating children at no charge for as long as they operate Provision 2. Except for offering all meals at no charge and associated adaptation of the household notification, other procedures in the first year of the Provision 2 cycle (base year) are the same as non-Provision 2 schools
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School Breakfast Program (SBP) |
The School Breakfast Program (SBP) provides a nutritious morning meal. This program is recognized as one of the most beneficial of the federal nutrition programs. It meets a vital need of feeding thousands of children in Colorado, who otherwise may not eat a nutritious breakfast. Participation in the program has been shown to improve learning and test performance. Specific "meal patterns" are required in the SBP, and Schools that participate in the SBP receive funding assistance similar to the National School Lunch Program.
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Special Milk Program (SMP) |
The Special Milk Program (SMP) offers milk to children who do not have access to the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program. This includes preschool and kindergarten children attending split-session schools or children attending summer or year-round camps. Participating schools and institutions receive financial assistance for each half-pint of milk served.
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Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) |
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides nutritious meals to children 18 years and younger during the summer or other continuous school calendar vacation programs. Free meals are provided to all children at approved SFSP sites in areas with significant concentrations of low-income children. SFSP sponsoring organizations are operated by public and private nonprofit school authorities, public or private, nonprofit residential and nonresidential camps, local, municipal, county or state governments, public or private colleges or universities participating in the National Youth Sports Program and private, nonprofit organizations.
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For additional information, E-Mail: nutrition@cde.state.co.us