At Risk After School Programs

When school is out and parents are still at work, children need a safe place to be with their friends, with structured activities, supportive adults, and good nutrition.

After-school programs that participate in CACFP give children and teenagers the nutrition they need, and draw them into constructive activities that are safe, fun, and filled with opportunities for learning.

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6602, sub-§1, ¶D

The law requires a school administrative unit to participate in the federal child and adult care food program. Beginning with the 2020 school year, a school administrative unit with at least one public school in which at least 50% of students qualified for a free or reduced-price lunch during the preceding school year shall participate in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program during the school year.

A school administrative unit that is required to operate a federal child and adult care food program may choose not to operate such a program if it determines by a vote of the governing body of the school administrative unit after notice and a public hearing that operating such a program would be financially or logistically impracticable.

Effective 9/19/2019