Overview

School Nutrition Programs | Program Guidance | Forms | Resources | Nutrition Education

The ASP operates under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and provides cash reimbursement to help schools serve snacks to children in afterschool activities aimed at promoting the health and well-being of children and youth in Connecticut’s communities. Schools must provide children with regularly scheduled activities in an organized, structured, and supervised environment that includes educational or enrichment activities, e.g., mentoring/tutoring programs. Programs must meet state or local licensing requirements and health and safety standards. Competitive interscholastic sports teams are not eligible. For detailed guidance on the ASP requirements, refer to the CSDE’s Afterschool Snack Program Handbook.

Note: The ASP meal pattern requirements for grades K-12 are different from the ASP preschool meal pattern requirements. The ASP preschool meal pattern is the same as the CACFP snack meal pattern for children and has stricter requirements. For a summary of the ASP meal patterns for each grade group, refer to the CSDE's Comparison of Afterschool Snack Program (ASP) Meal Pattern Requirements for Preschool and Grades K-12.

ASP Meal Patterns  |   Menu Planning Guidance  |   Quick Links

ASP Meal Patterns

• Grades K-12 for school year 2024-25 (through June 30, 2025)
  • ASP Meal Pattern for Grades K-12 (CSDE)
  • CSDE guide: Afterschool Snack Program Handbook:
    Section 2 provides detailed guidance on the ASP meal pattern and crediting requirements for grades K-12
  • Crediting Summary Charts for the ASP Meal Pattern for Grades K-12 (CSDE)
  • Noncreditable Foods in the ASP Meal Pattern for Grades K-12 (CSDE)
  • Servings for Grains/Breads in the ASP Meal Pattern for Grades K-12 (CSDE)
    • More guidance: Serving Size for Grains/Breads (Documents/Forms section)
• Preschool for school year 2024-25 (through June 30, 2025) 
  • ASP Preschool Meal Pattern (Ages 1-4) (CSDE)
  • Crediting Summary Charts for the Preschool Meal Patterns of the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
  • CSDE guide: Menu Planning Guide for the Preschool Meal Patterns of the School Nutrition Programs
    Provides detailed guidance on the preschool meal pattern and crediting requirements
  • CSDE webpage: Meal Patterns for Preschoolers in School Nutrition Programs 
  • Grain Ounce Equivalents for the Preschool Meal Patterns of the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
  • Noncreditable Foods in the Preschool Meal Patterns for the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
  • Resources for the Preschool Meal Patterns (CSDE),
• Meal Pattern Changes 
  On April 25, 2024, the USDA published the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (89 FR 31962). This final rule implements gradual updates to the Child Nutrition Programs in several key areas, including the ASP meal patterns. Some menu planning flexibilities take effect with school year 2024-25 (beginning July 1, 2024). Changes to ASP menus are not required until school year 2025-26 (beginning July 1, 2025). For more information, visit the "Upcoming Meal Pattern Changes" section of the CSDE's Meal Patterns for Grades K-12 in School Nutrition Programs webpage.

Menu Planning Guidance

• Afterschool Care Snacks Cycle Menus (USDA)
• Comparison Charts (Document/Forms section)
• Crediting Foods for Grades K-12 in the ASP (Document/Forms section)
• Crediting Foods for Preschoolers in the ASP (Document/Forms section)
• CSDE ASP Guides
  • Afterschool Snack Program Handbook (CSDE)
  • Menu Planning Guide for the Preschool Meal Patterns of the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
• Forms for the ASP (Document/Forms section)
• Menu Planning for the ASP (Document/Forms section)
• Monitoring in the ASP (Document/Forms section)

Quick Links

• Claim Submission Schedule for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
• Direct Certification for School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
• Eligibility for Free and Reduced-price Meals and Milk in School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
• Online Application and Claiming System for Connecticut Child Nutrition Programs  (CSDE)
  • Procedures, User IDs, Passwords and Access for School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
• Operational Memoranda for School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
• Program Guidance for School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)

Nondiscrimination Statements (USDA and CSDE)