School Food Modernization Act
The School Food Modernization Act would add new federal programs and funding streams to improve school meal facilities and the school food service workforce. It creates a loan-guarantee program to finance infrastructure upgrades and durable equipment for school meal programs (with priority for higher-need districts and tribal entities), plus grants for equipment purchases starting in 2026. It also establishes a national, competitive grant program to fund third-party training and technical assistance for school food service personnel to meet nutrition standards and run programs more efficiently. In addition, the bill requires reporting to Congress on implementation, funds a study of how states use administrative expense funds for nutrition workforce training, and includes a funding offset drawn from the Department of Education’s unobligated administrative funds. Overall, the bill aims to modernize school lunch facilities, expand access to healthy meals through upgraded equipment and facilities, and strengthen the training and professional development of school nutrition staff.
Key Points
- 1Loan guarantees for infrastructure improvements and durable equipment: The Secretary would guarantee up to 80% of loans for constructing/remodeling/upgrading school meal infrastructure and purchasing durable equipment (> $500 value) to support healthy meals. Preferences are given to entities with greater need, and oversight would be provided through the Under Secretary for Rural Development. A pool of $300 million of unobligated loan-guarantee authority would be reserved for this program, with up to 5% of annual funding for technical assistance.
- 2Equipment grants (starting FY2026): State agencies would provide competitive subgrants to local educational agencies and tribal schools to purchase equipment needed for healthy meals and food safety, supporting modernization of the school meal program. Preferences are given to entities with greater infrastructure or equipment needs. Authorized appropriations of $35 million per year for 2026–2031, plus up to 5% annual funding for technical assistance.
- 3Training and technical assistance for school food service personnel: A new grant program would fund eligible third-party training institutions (nonprofits active in nutrition services, higher education institutions, area career and technical education schools, or consortia) to develop and deliver training to meet nutrition standards and improve efficiency. The federal share for training is capped at 80%, with matching contributions required. The program would be overseen by the Secretary, with efforts to disseminate materials and tools.
- 4Reporting and oversight: The Secretary would report to Congress on progress implementing sections 21A (training) and 27 (loans/grants) within one year of funds being available and annually thereafter.
- 5Study of state administrative expense funds: The Act would require a study on how states use administrative expense funds to support nutrition workforce training and related policies, plus development of an assessment tool and a plan for disseminating best practices to state agencies.
- 6Offset: The bill would rescind $45 million of unobligated balances from the Department of Education’s administrative expenses to offset the new spending.