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Program objective
Eligibility criteria
Participation requirements
Reimbursement
Record-keeping
For further information

Program objective

To encourage the consumption of milk by children in order to foster good health and academic achievement.

Eligibility criteria

  • All public schools, non-profit private schools that are tax exempt under 501(C)(3) of Internal Revenue Code and non-profit nursery schools, child care centers, settlement houses, summer camps and similar non-profit institutions devoted to the care and education of children are eligible to sponsor a program which may begin at any time during the year.
  • The Special Milk Program may not be operated in a school or institution, which is also participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program.
    Exception: Sponsors may participate in the Split Session Kindergarten Milk program. The Split Session Kindergarten Milk Program allows for the serving of milk to children enrolled in the Split Session Kindergarten programs, where they do not have access to the National School Lunch Program.
  • Participating sponsors receive cash reimbursement based on the number of half-pints served to children.

Participation requirements

Sponsors must annually sign an agreement with the Bureau of Child Nutrition Programs, New Jersey Department of Agriculture that includes, but is not limited to the following requirements:

  • The program must be operated on a non-profit basis solely for the benefit of all children within the school.
  • Any child from a family meeting criteria for eligibility based on family size and income, may receive a free milk.
  • The price charged to paying children is established by the sponsor, but must be within the maximum price established by the Bureau of Child Nutrition Programs.

Reimbursement

  • Reimbursement is claimed based on the number of ½ pints of milk actually served to students, by category.

Record-keeping

  • A reimbursement voucher is filed monthly with the Bureau of Child Nutrition Programs, New Jersey Department of Agriculture.
  • The required statistical and financial records supporting all reimbursement vouchers must be kept on file for a period of three years following the fiscal year to which they pertain except that, if audit findings have not been resolved, the records shall be retained beyond the three year period as long as required for the resolution of issues raised by the audit.
  • All records must be available at any time for review and/or audit by the Bureau of Child Nutrition Programs, New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture.

For further information

Click here for contact information regarding the Special Milk Program or any other School Nutrition Program.


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