2025 KIT Grant & Retention & Recruitment Grant is sponsored by California Department of Education. Supports initiatives to improve the quality of meals served through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, and funding to support the retention and recruitment of school food service professionals.

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The Retention & Recruitment Grant competitively awards funding to support the retention and recruitment of food service staff.

The 2025 Kitchen Infrastructure and Training (KIT) Grant competitively awards funding to eligible school food authorities (SFA) to support initiatives for improving the quality of meals served through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP), which may include procurement of California-grown, whole or minimally processed food, food service staff training and salaries, and kitchen infrastructure upgrades.

The Retention and Recruitment (R&R) Grant competitively awards funding to support the retention and recruitment of school food service professionals. On June 27, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 121 (Committee on Budget. Education finance: education omnibus budget trailer bill) into law.

Section 79 of this law appropriated $155 million from the State of California’s General Fund to the California Department of Education (CDE) to competitively award $145 million in KIT Grants and $10 million in R&R Grants. Unlike the previous KIT allocations, these grants are competitive, and eligible entities must apply using an online application.

The amount of funding grantees receive will be determined by a funding formula outlined on the “Funding” tab. Grantees must complete a mandatory progress report and final report, to receive their entire grant award. Grant funding must be encumbered by June 30, 2028.

Eligible SFAs are not required to apply for both the 2025 KIT and the R&R Grants. Eligible SFAs may choose to apply for one or both grants using the same online application.

Kitchen Infrastructure and Training Grant Total Amount of Funds Available to Award: $145,000,000 The 2025 KIT Grant is intended to support the continued implementation of Universal Meals and to assist SFAs as they continue on the journey for improved meal quality in the School Nutrition Programs (SNP).

This grant supports the following types of expenditures: Procurement of California-grown, whole or minimally processed, sustainably grown and/or organic ingredients from California producers, for inclusion in reimbursable meals served through the NSLP and SBP.

service staffing costs to support training and professional development for increasing capacity for freshly prepared onsite meals, which may include training on minimally processed, freshly prepared onsite meals, removal of particularly harmful ultraprocessed foods from menus, locally and sustainably grown ingredients, food preparation, healthy food marketing, reducing food waste, and changing the school lunchroom environment to promote a positive dining experience with adequate seat time.

This grant may also support additional compensation for additional work relating to serving Universal Meals that may include preparing and serving minimally processed, locally and sustainably grown foods, organic foods, and plant-based or restricted diet food or milk options.

infrastructure or equipment upgrades to increase the capacity and service options for offering freshly prepared onsite meals using minimally processed, locally grown, organic, and sustainable ingredients, and increase a school’s capacity to prepare meals that surpass the current nutritional quality of food served through the SNPs, while also reducing food waste and promoting adequate seat time.

When purchasing equipment, SFAs are encouraged, to the extent practicable, to acquire energy-saving electric and induction equipment rather than equipment that uses fossil fuels. Recruitment and Retention Grant Total Amount of Funds Available to Distribute: $10,000,000 The R&R Grant is intended to support the retention and recruitment of two to three school nutrition professionals.

This grant should primarily be used to support one-time costs associated with recruiting and retaining qualified school nutrition food service staff to meet the increased demands associated with providing high quality school meals. This could include signing bonuses, one-time bonuses, or recruitment activities.

The R&R funding can also be used for training and professional development opportunities for school nutrition food service staff, or staffing costs associated with scheduling changes to increase access to school meals. To appeal a CDE 2025 KIT or R&R award decision, visit the CDE Appeal Process for Grants web page for the timeline, procedures, and Grant Appeal Form.

For questions regarding these grants, please contact the 2025 KIT and R&R Grant team by email at KIT2025@cde. ca. gov .

The 2025 KIT and R&R Grants are only available to eligible SFAs defined in Senate Bill 121 as public school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools. Only eligible SFAs that are approved to operate the NSLP and SBP will be eligible to receive grant funding.

An eligible SFA must have an approved written agreement with the California Department of Education (CDE), Nutrition Services Division (NSD), a valid Child Nutrition Information and Payment System identification number on file, be a fully approved sponsor at the time the online application is due, and be in good standing with the CDE in all Child Nutrition Programs in order to be eligible for these grants.

More information on the CDE good standing parameters can be found on the Good Standing Status for School Nutrition Program Grants web page.

In addition, to qualify for the R&R Grant, eligible SFAs must have a written plan to seek input from applicable unions/bargaining units, human resources, food service administrators, governing board or body members, staff, and parents on how the improved retention and recruitment initiatives will increase access to fresh, healthy school meals and address local priorities.

Applicants must identify at least two (not to exceed three) classified employees to be eligible to receive R&R funding. The Request for Applications for the 2025 KIT and R&R Grants is now available. Eligible SFAs are not required to apply for both the 2025 KIT and the R&R Grants.

Eligible SFAs may choose to apply for one or both grants using the same online application. The California Department of Education (CDE) must receive completed 2025 KIT and R&R Grant applications by the deadline. The CDE will only accept online applications.

Accept any applications received after the grant deadline Process incomplete or late applications Accept placeholder applications Accept faxed or mailed submissions, or submissions sent by email SFAs must apply using the online application. The application must be submitted by an authorized representative of the agency and must be an individual currently on file in the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System.

2025 KIT Grant Application Scoring Criteria Using the 2025 KIT Grant Application scoring criteria below, the Nutrition Services Division (NSD) staff will score applications from eligible SFAs based on the areas identified in Senate Bill (SB) 121 and the additional criteria outlined below. Eligible SFAs can receive up to 100 points for the 2025 KIT Grant.

All applications are scored based on the following criteria: The SFA has received 2022 KIT funding and has obligated at least 50 percent (%) of its 2022 KIT allocation (10 points). The SFA has site(s) approved to operate the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2 (P2).

Points awarded based on percentage of CEP/P2 sites: The SFA is in compliance with federal excess net cash resources (NCR) requirements (up to 10 points): SFA has no excess NCR of six or more months operating expenses (10 points) SFA has excess NCR of six or more months operating expenses and is in compliance with their approved budget agreement (5 points) SFA has excess NCR of six or more months operating expenses and is not currently on an approved budget agreement with the California Department of Education (CDE) (0 points) SFA has been notified by the CDE that they are at risk of long-term noncompliance with excess NCR, but has an approved budget agreement with the CDE (0 points) The SFA is transitioning from using a food vendor or Food Service Management Company (FSMC) to self-operating (up to 20 points).

Provide a detailed plan for how the transition will be completed. Up to 20 points for SFAs that provide a strong plan for transitioning from using a food vendor or FSMC to self-operating. A strong plan would include a reasonable timeline including dates and a list of the specific facility and equipment upgrades that will be needed for the transition.

The narrative should also include plans for the implementation of a new meal counting and claiming system, procurement procedures, and a list of menu planning tools that might be necessary for the transition. A strong plan will also provide detail on the increased staff workload, a list of possible new positions, and a list of the trainings that will be necessary for a successful transition.

Up to 15 points for SFAs that provide an average plan to transition from using a food vendor or FSMC to self-operating. An average plan might include a timeline but lack specific dates. The plan might mention some equipment upgrades and facilities upgrades are needed but not say what types.

The SFA might also not mention anything about staffing or training needs related to the transition. An average plan might mention needing to find a source for food procurement but not have any plans set in place yet. Up to 10 points for SFAs that provide a weak plan to transition from using a food vendor or FSMC to self-operating.

A weak plan might state the desire to transition but lacks specific details on how the transition plan will happen and what resources will be needed. The SFA will use the funding to procure California-grown, minimally processed, sustainably grown food from California producers, for inclusion in reimbursable meals served through the NSLP and SBP (10 points).

SFA will implement strategies that will improve the quality of meals served in the School Nutrition Programs.

5 points each for indicating that the SFA will implement the following strategies: Increasing minimally processed, freshly prepared on-site meals Staffing and training related to meals for plant based or restricted diets Removing ultra-processed ingredients Incorporating more organic ingredients Transitioning away from nitrates/nitrites Transitioning away from artificial sweeteners Implementing strategies for healthy food marketing Implementing strategies to increase adequate time to eat Retention & Recruitment Grant Application Scoring Criteria Using the R&R Grant application scoring criteria, NSD staff will score applications from eligible SFAs based on the areas identified by SB 121 and the additional criteria mentioned below.

Eligible SFAs can receive up to 100 points for the R&R Grant. All applications are scored based on the following criteria: The SFA indicates the type(s) of positions that the SFA intends to use funding to retain or recruit staff (25 points for retention or recruitment of a Registered Dietitian, Chef, or Procurement Specialist/Agent. 10 points for other food service staff).

The SFA indicates that they will use R&R Grant funding for professional development opportunities (25 points). The SFA indicates how the R&R Grant funding will be used to implement strategies to help improve meal service and increase capacity for food service staff.

5 points for indicating the SFA will implement strategies that: Decrease particularly harmful ultra-processed foods Increase plant based or restricted diet food options Increase procurement of sustainable, local ingredients Increase organic ingredients Develop/utilize standardized recipes Implement strategies to ensure adequate time to eat The SFA indicates the types of incentives the SFA will be using to recruit and retain qualified food service staff (10 points): One-time bonuses for existing staff One-time professional development opportunities for existing staff Funding awards for both grants will be located on the California Department of Education (CDE) Funding Results web page after the 2025 KIT and R&R Grant Request for Applications has closed and all applications have been scored by the CDE.

Following the closure of the Request for Application, the CDE will review and score each grant application. Once an award list has been created and the awarded SFAs have been announced, a Grant Award Notification (GAN) will be electronically sent to the awarded agencies’ Superintendent to be signed. After the SFA signs the 2025 KIT GAN, the CDE will distribute the initial 50 percent of the awarded grant funding.

All grantees will be required to complete a progress report with details on how the funds have been used or the planned expenditures. Once the progress report has been submitted, SFAs will be eligible to receive an additional 25 percent of their remaining grant award total. The CDE will distribute the remaining 25 percent upon receipt of the SFA’s final report.

2025 KIT Grants must be encumbered by June 30, 2028. Unused funds must be returned within 30 days of receiving a CDE billing notice. After the SFA signs the 2025 R&R GAN, the CDE will distribute the initial 90 percent of the awarded grant funding.

The CDE will distribute the remaining 10 percent upon receipt of the SFA’s final report. 2025 R&R Grants must be encumbered by June 30, 2028. Unused funds must be returned within 30 days of receiving a CDE billing notice.

The 2025 KIT and R&R are competitive grants, and any eligible SFA may submit an application to be considered for one or both grants. The amount SFAs will receive will depend on the SFA’s completed grant application. Total amount of funds available to award: $145,000,000 The award amounts will be calculated based on the following formula: Base funding: Each eligible SFA will receive a base funding level of $2,500.

Student enrollment funding: Each eligible SFA will receive at least $27 per enrolled student. Student enrollment number will be based on the enrollment number in the SFA’s October 2025 claim in the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS).

Once the student enrollment funding is calculated, the CDE will multiply that amount by the score (in the form of a percentage) the SFA receives on their 2025 KIT Grant application. The following grant funding caps will apply to the final amount based on student enrollment: Enrollments of up to 60,000 students will be capped at $1. 25 million.

Enrollments of 60,001-100,000 students will be capped at $1. 5 million. Enrollments of 100,001 students and above will be capped at $2 million.

Example #1: An SFA has 5,000 students. The SFA scored 80 points out of 100 (80%) on their 2025 KIT Grant application. After reviewing the applications, the Nutrition Services Division (NSD) determined that each eligible SFA will receive $27 per enrolled student.

Student enrollment funding = $135,000 (5,000 students x $27) Multiply the student enrollment funding by score (in the form of a percentage) on the SFA’s 2025 KIT Grant application: $135,000 x . 80 = $108,000 Base funding + percentage of student enrollment funding = $110,500 Since the total is below $1 million, no cap would be applied. The SFA would receive $110,500 Example #2: An SFA has 80,000 students.

The SFA scored 70 points out of 100 (70%) on their 2025 KIT Grant application. After reviewing the applications, the NSD determined that each eligible SFA will receive $27 per enrolled student. Student enrollment funding = $2,160,000 (80,000 students x $27) Multiply the student enrollment funding by score (in the form of a percentage) on the SFA’s 2025 KIT Grant application: $2,160,000 x .

70 = $1,512,000 Base funding + percentage of student enrollment funding = $1,514,500 The cap for SFAs with enrollments between 60,001 and 100,000 students is $1. 5 million. After applying the cap to this SFA, the SFA would receive $1.

5 million Note: The funding approaches provided in this section are only an estimate and amounts awarded may change based on responses to the request for applications. Actual award amounts will be posted on the CDE Funding Results web page.

Recruitment and Retention Funding Formula Total amount of funds available to award: $10,000,000 The award amounts will be calculated based on the following formula: Base funding: Each eligible SFA will receive a base funding level of $2,500 per impacted classified employee. Note: applicants must identify at least two classified employees (not to exceed three) to be eligible to receive funding.

School Year (SY) 2024–25 meal count funding: Each eligible SFA will receive at least $0. 01 per meal served (Breakfast and Lunch). Meal count data for SY 2024–25 will be pulled from the claim data in the CNIPS.

Once the meal count funding is calculated, the CDE will multiply that amount by the score (in the form of a percentage) the SFA receives on their R&R Grant application. The CDE will release funds to the SFA’s respective County Treasurer’s Offices to distribute funds.

Please be sure that the contact information you enter into the grant application is correct, as this will be used for all communication pertaining to the grant funding. SFAs are encouraged to deposit their grant funding into the SFA’s general fund account. The 2025 KIT and R&R Grants should be accounted for, and tracked separately from, the nonprofit school food service account (also known as the cafeteria fund).

If you deposit 2025 KIT or R&R Grant funding into your Fund 13, grant funds could take on the rules governing the cafeteria fund, when expenditures are combined with School Nutrition Program (SNP) reimbursement. As a result, federal regulations would apply to expenditures which will result in less flexibility for use.

Cafeteria funds can be used to supplement equipment purchased with 2025 KIT and R&R Grants, but additional federal requirements must be met, including: Written preapproval by the CDE Federal procurement requirements Potential review by NSD during an SNP Administrative Review. Cafeteria fund expenditures not in compliance with federal regulations may be subject to disallowance.

For more information on restrictions and regulations governing the use of cafeteria funds, please see the CDE Cafeteria Fund Guidance web page. To request approval for cafeteria fund expenditures, please contact the Resource Management Unit at SNPCafeFundQuestions@cde. ca.

gov . The CDE has created a standardized account code structure (SACS) resource code to help you record the 2025 KIT and R&R Grants.

Please ensure the revenue is deposited into the agency’s general fund using the resource code below: SACS Resource Code: 7041 – Kitchen Infrastructure Upgrades, Staffing & Training & Procurement Funds SACS Resource Code: 7042 – Food Service Staff Retention & Recruitment Funds Revenue Object Code: 8520 If you have questions about the accounting for these funds using the new resource code, please contact the School Fiscal Services Division at SACSINFO@cde.

ca. gov . Also note that indirect costs are not an allowable expense for the 2025 KIT and R&R Grants.

Both grants must be encumbered by June 30, 2028. Unencumbered grant funding must be returned to the CDE within 30 days of invoicing. As a condition of accepting the 2025 KIT and R&R Grant awards, SFAs must commit to completing mandatory expenditure reports to receive their full grant award total.

These reports will gather details on how the grants were used to improve the quality of school meals or continue implementing Universal Meals, as well as how the grant supported retention and recruitment efforts in the SNPs. Recipients of the 2025 KIT Grant must complete both a progress report and a final report by the established due dates, while R&R Grant recipients must only complete the final report.

Below is a list of allowable expenses by the categories outlined in the law. This list is not exhaustive. Purchases made with these funds must be for the use and improvement of the SFA’s food service operation, with priority being given to food purchases and staff training.

All 2025 KIT and R&R purchases must be reasonable and necessary. Purchases for capital expenditures made in combination with School Nutrition Program (SNP) funds , are subject to state agency preapproval, if not listed on the capital expenditure preapproved list . These funds may be used for any eligible purchases made since the date that this funding was approved, July 1, 2025.

2025 Kitchen Infrastructure and Training Grant California-grown Food – Allowable Expenses 2025 KIT Grants can be used to procure California-grown, minimally processed, organic, or sustainably grown food from California producers to be used in preparing reimbursable meals for the SNPs. These foods and ingredients should be used with the intent to increase the amount of freshly prepared on-site meals within your SFA.

SFAs are also encouraged to use the grant to support their efforts in reducing ultraprocessed ingredients in school meals.

Purchase of ingredients, including but not limited to: California-grown produce, including organic items Minimally processed ingredients Food with little to no ultraprocessed ingredients California-grown Food – Unallowable Expenses Foods that are not whole, minimally processed, or sustainably grown foods from California producers. Foods that are not included in reimbursable meals served through the NSLP and SBP.

Food Service Staff – Allowable Expenses Food Service Staff Trainings Trainings provided with these grants are for the benefit of food service staff at the district, county office of education, or school-site level. Grant funding should be used for food service staff that are employees of the eligible SFA. Training costs incurred must be reasonable and necessary.

SFAs must maintain training documentation, including: Agenda or learning outcomes Attendance, including the number and type (e.g., front line, managers, etc.) of staff trained Food service staff training topics, including but not limited to: Minimally processed, freshly prepared onsite meals Locally and sustainably grown foods Food preparation and culinary skills Healthy beverage marketing Incorporating plant-based menu options Farm to School or locally sourced foods Changing the school lunchroom environment and Smarter Lunchroom trainings Food waste management and reduction Adequate time to eat strategies Student engagement in school meals and food environment design Policy, systems, and environmental change strategies to promote healthy food How school wellness policies can promote healthy foods Menu planning for healthy food promotion Hosting a healthy food taste testing event Conducting nutrition education and healthy food promotion activities Promoting equity in the school lunch environment Food service staff training methods, including but not limited to: Culinary hands-on training In-person group training: large group, small group, etc. Coaching and mentoring: one-on-one training, Train the Trainer, etc. Online training and learning Related courses/certifications: ServSafe, etc. Staff Salaries for Trainings 2025 KIT Grant funding may pay for staff salaries associated with trainings conducted during typical work time as well as trainings conducted outside of normal work hours.

When there is a training during business hours, grant funding can be used to pay for staff salaries and necessary substitute hours. When training results in staff overtime, grant funding may be used to pay for the overtime associated with the training.

If internal staff are providing the training, funding may be used to fund staff costs to develop and present the training; in this instance, it is important to ensure that only one funding source, federal or state funding, is charged for this time. As a reminder, SFAs are responsible for the proper tracking and accounting for both federal and state funds associated with staff time and substitutes.

The legislation authorizes these grants to be used to provide additional compensation for work related to serving Universal Meals that may include minimally processed, locally and sustainably grown foods, or plant-based or restricted diet food and milk options. This category of allowable expenses allows SFAs to offset increased staff costs associated with serving high quality Universal Meals and freshly prepared onsite meals.

Some examples of allowable expenses under this category could include, but are not limited to: Additional costs associated with local procurement; invoicing, accounts receivable of locally, organic, or sustainably grown foods Farm to School Coordinator Food Service Staff Training Position Additional positions and overtime costs associated with new or expanded meal service Staff salary costs associated with hiring positions to support new or expanded meal service salary costs associated with offering and cooking nutritionally adequate breakfast or lunch without ultraprocessed foods Please note: Staff paid with 2025 KIT Grants and federal Child Nutrition Funds are required to track time and activity in accordance with federal regulations and state policy.

Please refer to California Department of Education Management Bulletins Documenting Employee Time and Effort in the SNPs and Equivalent Documentation for Multifunded Employees . 2025 KIT Grant funding may pay for consultants hired to conduct trainings and build staff capacity to improve meal quality in the SNPs.

To help clarify the use of 2025 KIT Grants for travel to allowable training opportunities, the Nutrition Services Division (NSD) has outlined the following: can be used for reasonable/applicable travel expenses (including, but not limited to, registration fees, airfare, car rental, meals, etc.) to attend trainings that meet the purpose of the 2025 KIT Grants. Priority should be given to in-state training opportunities.

expenses must follow the organization’s policies and be reasonable and necessary. Food Service Management Companies (FSMC) To help clarify if and when an SFA can use 2025 KIT Grants to pay for an FSMC training, the NSD has outlined the following: must be used to train SFA food service staff. FSMC staff may attend if there is no resulting additional cost to the training.

Funding cannot be awarded to an existing FSMC to provide training if training is already a part of an existing contract. Any 2025 KIT Grant-funded training provided by an FSMC must be above and beyond current contracted activities and trainings.

To help clarify the use of 2025 KIT Grants in connection with professional standards, the NSD has outlined the following: Trainings that fulfill the 2025 KIT Grant training purpose and, also address the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) professional standards learning objectives for school nutrition professionals, can be paid for using 2025 KIT Grant funding.

Information regarding the USDA’s professional standards can be found on the USDA Professional Standards for School Nutrition Professionals Time spent in trainings that fulfill the purpose of the 2025 KIT Grants may also be counted towards the professional standards training requirements of the USDA, as applicable.

Training that fulfills the requirements for a food safety certification or culinary safety certification, such as ServSafe. If an eligible staff member is enrolled in a college degree program, funding cannot be used to pay for a degree program. However, it can be used to pay for individual college courses that also meet the purpose of the grants.

Food Service Staff – Unallowable Expenses While these grants are flexible, any training that does not build capacity for school food service staff to increase freshly prepared onsite meals is not allowable.

Examples of unallowable school food service staff training expenses include: Expenses that do not incorporate or relate to any of the required compensation categories, including minimally processed, locally and sustainably grown foods, organic foods, or plant-based or restricted diet food or milk options Salaries, benefits, or training for non-food service staff Custodial and maintenance services Hiring consultants and subs to do the work of food service employees Memorabilia, gifts, or promotional items Food provided during training Kitchen Infrastructure – Allowable Expenses Cooking equipment and supporting infrastructure system needs, including but not limited to: Oven, range, stove, steamer Exhaust or condensate hood Hot or cold cart or cabinet Food slicer, chopper, dicer, etc. Depositor and filling machine Meal or food packing machine Stainless steel work tables Styrofoam recycling machine Compost bins, machine, and compost accelerator (dehydrator) Electrical, structural, plumbing, and other facility upgrade support Service equipment, including but not limited to: Point-of-sale systems (pin pads, tablets, scanners) Food display (hot or cold) Hot well transport system Serving line system (hot or cold) Nutrient analysis software Refrigeration and storage, including but not limited to: Inventory management systems and software, including scanners, bar code readers, label makers, printers Temperature monitoring and management systems and software Backup generator for refrigerators Transportation of ingredients, meals, and equipment between sites, including but not limited to: Vehicles and equipment to prevent spoilage of food in transit Kitchen Infrastructure – Unallowable Expenses While 2025 KIT Grants are flexible, any infrastructure or equipment that does not meet their purpose, which is to increase a school’s capacity to prepare meals served in the SNPs, including freshly preparing onsite meals, serving fresh and nutritious school meals using minimally processed, locally grown, and sustainable food, or