Since the expressed purpose of federal assistance is to safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation's children, meals served to adults are neither eligible under the authorizing legislation and regulations for Federal cash reimbursement, nor do they earn donated food assistance for the school food authority.  Program funds are available to school food authorities for use within their overall nonprofit school food service operations, rather than being restricted solely to the financing of program specific costs.  Nevertheless, school food authorities must ensure, to the extent practicable, that the federal reimbursements, children's payments, and other nondesignated nonprofit food service revenues do not subsidize program meals served to adults.

Meals served to adults who are directly involved in the operation and administration of the school nutrition programs may, at the discretion of the school food authority, be furnished at no charge.  Only those individuals who are directly involved in the preparation and serving or administration of school meals are in this category.  As such, their cost may be fully attributed to and supported by the nonprofit food service operation.  Teachers, administrators, custodians, monitors, and student teachers must be charged for their meals. Please check the Child Nutrition Knowledge Center website for the correct price to charge adults.   If the school wants to provide these meals at no charge, the cost for serving the meals must be negotiated as a fringe benefit and placed in the school budget.  Funds for the meals must be transferred appropriately to the school food service account.

Meals served to any adults may not be claimed for reimbursement or counted towards the donated foods entitlement.