Accessible Version
Official Seal of the California Department of Education


Form

Intersessional Meals State-Funded Grant Opt-In Form

Nutrition Services Division

Thank you for your interest in the Intersessional Meals Grant. The Intersessional Meals Grant is a one-time state funded grant program administered by the California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division. Section 181 of Assembly Bill 113: Budget Act of 2026 allocated $15 million for local assistance funds to support intersessional meals during the 2026 – 2027 school year (SY). This grant provides funds for public school districts, county offices of education, and direct funded charter schools to offer at least one free meal per day to children in low-income areas during school intersessional periods of less than ten days during the 2026-27 SY. This grant will provide a funding allocation to support the administration of meals and is not a per-meal reimbursement program.
Funding allocations will be determined by the CDE after the opt-in period closes on November 9, 2026 at 4:00pm. An example of a potential funding allocation amount if all eligible public school districts, county offices of education and direct funded charter schools opt-in to the grant would be approximately $12,500 per grantee.

To begin the application process, please complete the following form.

Local Educational Agency Details

1.
2.CNIPS ID & Name (Only required if not listed above)
  
  
3.Point of Contact
  
  
  
  

Grant Requirements

  • These grant funds may only support meal services during intersessional periods of less than 10 days and may not be used to supplant the federal Summer Meal Programs.
  • Meal service sites must be located in low-income areas in which at least 50 percent of children are eligible for Free and Reduced-Price Meals, also known as an area eligible site.
  • At a minimum, meals must be compliant with and reimbursable under the Summer Food Service Program meal pattern requirements .
  • These grant funds must only be used to support the costs of providing meals.
  • Grant funds may not be used for capital expenditures.
  • Grant funds must be maintained separately from any federally funded programs or accounts and must not be comingled with any other federally funded grant or meal program.
  • Grantees must inform their communities of meal service(s) prior to the service being held.
  • Grantees must track and retain documentation supporting meals served throughout the term of this grant including but not limited to: the number of meals served, the number of children served, the number of days of meal service, meal service types (breakfast, lunch, or supper) and the method of meal distribution (congregate/non-congregate), and meal service location(s).
  • Grantees must report grant results to the CDE.
4.By checking the box below, you accept the grant requirements and are opting in to the Intersessional Meals Grant
Once you select the Submit button below, your survey responses will be sent to the Nutrition Services Division. You will receive a confirmation email at the email you provided at item #3 after completing this form.