USDA Food and Nutrition Service (in Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture)
Special Milk Program
A federal payment for each half-pint of milk a nonprofit private school serves, for schools that don't run school lunch or breakfast. The 2026-27 rate is 28 cents per half-pint for children who pay.
- Amount
- 28 cents for each half-pint of milk served to a paying child (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027); free milk is paid at your average cost
- Can a for-profit school apply?
- No: for-profit schools excluded
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Who this fits
- Private school · MicroschoolNonprofit private schools that don't run school lunch or breakfast. For-profit schools aren't named.
- New schools
- Not stated for new schools
- Where
- National: schools in any US state
- Last checked
- Oct 5, 2026on fns.usda.gov
Unconfirmed: check with the funder
We couldn’t confirm these on an official page. Treat them as open questions, not facts.
- Whether Arkansas wants an IRS 501(c)(3) letter for the milk program, as it does for school lunch: ask the Department of Agriculture.
- How soon a new school can start: ask the state agency.
How to apply
- Step 1: Confirm your school is a nonprofit and isn't in school lunch or breakfast
- Step 2: In Arkansas, call the Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition office (501-225-1598) or email info@agriculture.arkansas.gov
- Step 3: Sign the state agreement and decide whether to sell milk, give it free, or both
Funders change their requirements. Check the official page before you apply. Getting ready? See what funders usually ask for.
Who can apply
“Generally, public or nonprofit private schools of high school grade or under … may participate in the Special Milk Program”
This is for schools that don't take part in other federal meal programs (a school in school lunch or breakfast can use it only for half-day pre-K and kindergarten). The milk program must run on a nonprofit basis, and the federal money has to lower the price of milk for all children. It's a lighter option for a small nonprofit school that won't run full school meals. In Arkansas, USDA lists the Arkansas Department of Agriculture as the state contact.
- Nonprofit private school (high school grade or under)
- Not in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program (except half-day pre-K and K)
- Sign an agreement with the state agency
Timing
No application deadline is posted. Ask your state agency (in Arkansas, the Department of Agriculture) how and when to sign an agreement.
Already in school lunch or breakfast? See the National School Lunch and School Breakfast listing instead; the milk program only adds half-day pre-K and kindergarten for those schools.