Tennessee Department of Education, School Nutrition (USDA programs)
National School Lunch, School Breakfast and Afterschool Snack Programs (new school food authority)
A nonprofit private school in Tennessee can join the federal school lunch, breakfast and snack programs and get meals paid back. For fall 2027, start by contacting the state by January 1, 2027.
- Amount
- Federal meal reimbursement (rates not stated)
- Can a for-profit school apply?
- No: for-profit schools excluded
- Deadline
- Open
- Who this fits
- Private schoolThe state program serves public and private schools. Under federal rules the private school must be a nonprofit. Not for a for-profit school.Religious schools: not stated, ask the funder
- New schools
- Not stated for new schools
- Where
- Tennessee only
- Last checked
- Oct 28, 2026on tn.gov
Unconfirmed: check with the funder
We couldn’t confirm these on an official page. Treat them as open questions, not facts.
- Reimbursement rates
- Whether a brand-new school can join in its first year
- Which school year the chart's dates apply to (it says 'the upcoming school year')
How to apply
- Step 1: Go to the Tennessee Meals Counting and Claiming homepage and use the Interested in Applying? link, or email the state agency
- Step 2: Complete the prescreening questionnaire
- Step 3: Attend the informational session with your regional consultant
- Step 4: Schedule the three mandatory trainings by January 1, 2027
- Step 5: Submit Certification of Compliance worksheets by June 1 and the rest of the SFA packet by July 31
- Step 6: Pass the site visit before claiming meals
Funders change their requirements. Check the official page before you apply. Getting ready? See what funders usually ask for.
Who can apply
“Tennessee's School Nutrition program is responsible for providing nutritious meals and snacks for students in public and private schools”
USDA says the lunch program runs in public and nonprofit private schools. The state's chart for new school food authorities lists the steps for the upcoming school year: tell the state you're interested, attend an informational session, schedule three mandatory 2-hour trainings by January 1 (finished by May 1), submit Certification of Compliance worksheets by June 1, and pass a site visit. If forms are not filed by July 31, the school may not be approved for that year. If you plan to use a meal vendor or food service company, the chart's first steps are due October 1 and October 15; ask the state whether those dates have passed for fall 2027.
- Nonprofit private school (federal rule)
- Mandatory new-sponsor trainings (three 2-hour sessions)
- School nutrition supervisor who meets USDA hiring standards
- Pass a state site visit before claiming meals
- Forms filed by July 31
Timing
Ongoing: a new school food authority can start the steps any time. The state's chart (for 'the upcoming school year') lists dates without a year: a self-operated program contacts the state by January 1 and schedules trainings by January 1; vendor-meal steps start October 1 and 15. Ask the state which school year you can still join.