Sponsors must ensure that
- There is no physical segregation of any discrimination against any child because of race, sex, color, national origin, age, or handicap in the course of the milk service
- The same types of milk are made available to everyone,
- Milk served must meet the following requirements:
- Children 1 year old of age must be served unflavored whole milk.
- Children 2 through 5 years old must be served either unflavored low-fat (1 percent) or unflavored fat-free (skim) milk.
- Children/Students 6 years old and older must be served unflavored low-fat (1 percent), unflavored fat-free(skim), or flavered fat-free (skim) milk.
- The program is operated as a non-profit milk service,
- Revenue is used for only the operation or improvement of milk services, and
- All applicable state and federal procurement rules and regulations for the purchase of goods and services are met.
Sponsors are required to submit monthly claims for reimbursements for milk actually served to children. Milk served to adults cannot be claimed for reimbursement.
When participating in the Special Milk program, sponsors must operate a pricing program or a non-pricing program. In a pricing program, the reimbursement is used to reduce the cost of the milk served to children. In a non-pricing program, children are not charged for milk separately but the cost of the milk is included in tuition or other school fees. Non-pricing programs can only be in the paid milk option.
An annual application must be submitted each year in order to apply for funding. Applications are July 1 through June 30.