Offices
The Arkansas Department of Education Child Nutrition Unit (CNU) administers the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Special Milk Program, the Afterschool Snack Program, the provides Seamless Summer Program and the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Grants in the public schools in Arkansas.
The CNU provides technical assistance, training, monitoring, and processes claims for reimbursement of federal funds used in the operation of local school nutrition programs in accordance with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations.
Facts About the Impact of Child Nutrition in Arkansas(PDF)
Resources for Child Nutrition Programs During COVID-19
The coronavirus pandemic is presenting challenges for child nutrition programs in Arkansas and across the country. Here are some resources that can help:Additional information is available on the COVID-19 Information page
Meal Service Resources
- 2020 Fall Meal Service Considerations
- Seamless Summer Option: Providing Multiple Meals at a Time During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
- Feeding Kids When Schools Are Closed
- Child Nutrition Program Meal Service During COVID-19: Best Practices for Parent Pick-Up of Meals and Snacks
Resources From the School Nutrition Association
- COVID-19 Thought Starters on Reopening Schools for SY 2020-2021, School Nutrition Association, 2020 (PDF)
- Chain Reaction, School Nutrition, Special Supplement 2020 (PDF)
- The Financial Blows of COVID-19, School Nutrition, Special Supplement 2020 (PDF)
- Sad, Mad, Bad and Occasionally Rad, School Nutrition, Special Supplement 2020 (PDF)
- Food, Fun and Creativity in the Time of COVID-19, School Nutrition, Special Supplement 2020 (PDF)
- Getting Through This Together, School Nutrition, Special Supplement 2020 (PDF)
- The Intersection of Health, Duty and Compassion, School Nutrition, Special Supplement 2020 (PDF)
Resources From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Considerations for Schools, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PDF)
- CDC Readiness and Planning Tool to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in K-12 Schools (PDF)
- COVID-19: Quarantine vs. Isolation (PDF)
- What School Nutrition Professionals and Volunteers at Schools Need to Know about COVID-19 (PDF)
- Quarantine If You Might Be Sick (PDF)
- Isolate If You Are Sick (PDF)
For more information, please contact:
Child Nutrition Unit
Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
2020 W. 3rd Street, Suite 404
Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: 501-324-9502