SNP State Matching

State matching is a lump sum of money that the state agency disperses to local districts. The amount is based on the number of lunches served from the previous year. The state matching funds for public schools are submitted to the local districts typically in late December or early January. The funds are received via the local district’s general funds and transferred into the school nutrition program account.

The state matching funds should not be held by a local district’s general funds to draw interest or be held for local usage. The only exception is if the local school nutrition program (SNP) director’s wages are paid by the general funds. If this is the case, the local district may decide to use the state matching to pay the supervisor’s wages. However, the board of education can only keep the amount of the wages and benefits.

The usage of state matching funds is guided by T.C.A. § 49-3-313 (school lunch program), which says the 10% state matching funds distributed to local education agencies (LEAs) should be used for one or more of the following:

1. Employment of a certified school food service supervisor;
2. Employment of cafeteria managers or assistant managers accredited by the Tennessee School Food Service Association or working toward such accreditation;
3. Professional training programs for non-accredited personnel.

Ten percent of the state matching must be spent on training. The 10% for training may include training costs, wages, travel, hotel, and meals/incidentals.