SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Pursuant to sections 4, 11, and 17 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753, 1759a, and 1766), section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) and 7 CFR 226.4, 226.12, and 226.13 of the Program regulations, notice is hereby given of the new payment rates for institutions participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. As provided for under the law, all rates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program must be revised annually, on July 1, to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor, for the most recent 12-month period. These rates are in effect during the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Adjusted Payments

The following national average payment factors and food service payment rates for meals and snacks are in effect from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. All amounts are expressed in dollars or fractions thereof. Due to a higher cost of living, the reimbursements for Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands are higher than those for all other States. The District of Columbia uses the figures specified for the contiguous States. These rates do not include the value of USDA Foods or cash-in-lieu of USDA Foods, which institutions receive as additional assistance for each lunch or supper served to participants under the Program. A notice announcing the value of USDA Foods and cash-in-lieu of USDA Foods is published separately in the Federal Register .

Adjustments to the national average payment rates for all meals served under the Child and Adult Care Food Program are rounded down to the nearest whole cent.

National Average Payment Rates for Centers

The changes in the national average payment rates for centers reflect a 3.54 percent increase during the 12-month period from May 2025 to May 2026 (from 381.228 in May 2025, as previously published in the Federal Register , to 394.728 in May 2026) in the Food Away From Home series of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.

Payments for breakfasts served are: Contiguous States -paid rate-42 cents (2 cent increase from the 2025-2026 rate), reduced price rate-2 dollar and 24 cents (8 cents increase), free rate-2 dollars and 54 cents (8 cents increase); Alaska -paid rate-64 cents (2 cents increase), reduced price rate-3 dollars and 79 cents (14 cents increase), free rate-4 dollars and 9 cents (14 cents increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands -paid rate-52 cents (1 cent increase), reduced price rate -2 dollars and 99 cents (11 cents increase), free rate-3 dollars and 29 cents (11 cents increase).

Payments for lunch or supper served are: Contiguous States -paid rate-45 cents (1 cents increase), reduced price rate-4 dollars and 36 cents (16 cents increase), free rate-4 dollars and 76 cents (16 cents increase); Alaska -paid rate-74 cents (3 cents increase), reduced price rate-7 dollars and 32 cents (27 cents increase), free rate-7 dollars and 72 cents (27 cents increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands -paid rate-59 cents (2 cents increase), reduced price rate-5 dollars and 79 cents (21 cents increase), free rate-6 dollars and 19 cents (21 cents increase).

Payments for snack served are: Contiguous States -paid rate-12 cents (1 cent increase), reduced price rate-65 cents (2 cents increase), free rate-1 dollar and 30 cents (4 cents increase); Alaska -paid rate-19 cents (1 cents increase), reduced price rate-1 dollar and 6 cents (4 cent increase), free rate-2 dollars and 12 cents (8 cents increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands -paid rate-15 cents (no change), reduced price rate-85 cents (3 cents increase), free rate-1 dollar and 70 cents (6 cents increase).

Food Service Payment Rates for Day Care Homes

The changes in the food service payment rates for day care homes reflect a 2.74 percent increase during the 12-month period from May 2025 to May 2026 (from 312.491 in May 2025, as previously published in the Federal Register , to 321.047 in May 2026) in the Food At Home series of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.

Payments for breakfast served are: Contiguous States -Tier I-1 dollar and 74 cents (4 cent increase from the 2025-2026 rate) and Tier II-62 cents (1 cent increase); Alaska -Tier I-2 dollars and 79 cents (7 cents increase) and Tier II-98 cents (3 cent increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands -Tier I-2 dollar and 25 cents (6 cents increase) and Tier II-79 cents (2 cent increase).

Payments for lunch and supper served are: Contiguous States -Tier I-3 dollars and 31 cents (9 cents increase) and Tier II-1 dollar and 99 cents (5 cents increase); Alaska -Tier I-5 dollars and 36 cents (14 cents increase) and Tier II-3 dollars and 23 cents (8 cents increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands -Tier I-4 dollars and 30 cents (12 cents increase) and Tier II-2 dollar and 59 cents (7 cents increase).

Payments for snack served are: Contiguous States -Tier I-98 cents (2 cent increase) and Tier II-27 cents (1 cent increase); Alaska -Tier I-1 dollar and 59 cents (4 cents increase) and Tier II-44 cents (1 cent increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands -Tier I-1 dollar and 28 cents (4 cents increase) and Tier II-35 cents (1 cent increase).

Administrative Reimbursement Rates for Sponsoring Organizations of Day Care Homes

The changes in the administrative reimbursement rates for sponsoring organizations of day care homes reflect a 4.25 percent increase during the 12-month period, May 2025 to May 2026 (from 321.465 in May 2025, as previously published in the Federal Register , to in 335.123 May 2026) in the series for All Items of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.

Monthly administrative payments to sponsors for each sponsored day care home are: Contiguous States -Initial 50 homes-157 dollars (7 dollar increase from 2025-2026 annual level), next 150 homes-119 dollars (4 dollar increase), ( printed page 46896) next 800 homes-93 dollars (4 dollar increase), each additional home-82 dollars (3 dollar increase); Alaska -Initial 50 homes-254 dollars (10 dollar increase), next 150 homes-193 dollars (7 dollar increase), next 800 homes-151 dollars (6 dollar increase), each additional home-133 dollars (5 dollar increase); Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands -Initial 50 homes-204 dollars (9 dollar increase), next 150 homes-155 dollars (6 dollar increase), next 800 homes-121 dollars (5 dollar increase), each additional home-107 dollars (5 dollar increase).

Payment Chart

The following chart illustrates the national average payment factors and food service payment rates for meals and snacks in effect from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

This action is not a rule as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) and thus is exempt from the provisions of that Act. This notice has been determined to be exempt under Executive Order 12866.

Child and Adult Care Food Program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under No. 10.558 and is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials. (See 2 CFR 415.3-415.6).

This notice imposes no new reporting or recordkeeping provisions that are subject to OMB review in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3518).

Authority: Sections 4(b)(2), 11a, 17(c), and 17(f)(3)(B) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(2), 1759a, 1766(c), 1766(f)(3)(B)), and section 4(b)(1)(B) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773(b)(1)(B)).

91 FR 46894