Providing Nutritious Milk to Children

The Special Milk Program (SMP) provides milk to children in schools and childcare institutions who do not participate in other federal meal service programs. The program reimburses schools for the milk they serve. Schools in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs may also participate in the Special Milk Program to provide milk to children in half-day pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs where children do not have access to the school meal programs.

Program Factsheet Program Contacts

school nutrition professional carrying a carton of milk in a walk-in cooler

What's New?

Updates to the School Nutrition Standards

This final rule - Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans - is the next step in continuing the science-based improvement of school meals and advancing USDA’s commitment to nutrition security.

photo of school nutrition professionals signing forms

Child Nutrition: Program Integrity Final Rule

FNS published a final rule on program integrity to ensure that child nutrition programs are properly operated and managed to protect federal funds and taxpayer dollars.

Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security

USDA's Focus on Nutrition Security

Special Milk Program Resources

Policy

Policy Memos View all

Technical Assistance & Guidance

Fact Sheets FAQs/Q&As Forms Grants Instructions Handbooks Nutrition Education Technical Assistance Training Webinars/Videos View all

Research, Analysis & Background

Data Research View all