Sponsors (11)
The bill directs targeted federal funding and technical support to help districts serve healthier, scratch-cooked meals—especially in high-poverty areas—but requires taxpayer funding, diverts some funds to administration, may leave smaller districts behind, and can create ongoing labor costs and reporting burdens for schools.
Students in participating districts will receive more meals made from whole or minimally processed ingredients, improving nutrition and meal quality.
Schools/districts will get dedicated funding ($20 million per year, FY2027–FY2031) to buy equipment, upgrade kitchens, and support local operations, enabling more scratch cooking and improved meal services.
Low-income students and high-poverty districts are prioritized for grants, directing resources toward districts serving students on free/reduced-price lunch and improving equity of program benefits.
Participating districts may face higher ongoing labor and operational costs (more staff time for scratch cooking) after grants end, risking financial sustainability of improvements.
Smaller districts without self-operated food service or collective bargaining structures may be deprioritized for grants, leaving some small or rural schools and their students with less access to program benefits.
Administrative set-asides (up to 20% combined) for program administration reduce the share of funds available for direct school grants and kitchen upgrades.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a USDA competitive pilot grant program funding scratch-cooking in school meal programs and authorizes $20M/year for FY2027–FY2031, plus a nonprofit technical assistance center.
Creates a competitive USDA pilot grant program to help school food authorities increase "scratch" cooking—meals made from unprocessed or minimally processed ingredients—so school meals meet or exceed nutrition standards. The program funds training, equipment, staff compensation, technical assistance, procurement tools, and student engagement, and requires a nonprofit-run technical assistance and resource center. Authorizes $20 million per year for FY2027–FY2031, directs the Secretary of Agriculture to start the program within 180 days, limits USDA administrative set-asides, and requires grantee reporting on ingredient spending and scratch-made menu shares after the grant period.
Official title: To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a pilot program promoting scratch cooking in school meal programs.
Introduced May 20, 2026 by Jahana Hayes · Last progress May 20, 2026