Child Nutrition Information & Payment System (CNIPS)
CNIPS is a new Web-based system for local sponsors of federal food programs to more easily submit and track the status of their applications, claims, changes, and commodity requests to the CDE.The Early Childhood Development Act of 2020 (Senate Bill (SB) 98, Chapter 24, Statutes of 2020) authorized the transfer of child care and development programs administered by the California Department of Education to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) effective July 1, 2021. The content on this page may not be current and involves the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) that has moved to CDSS. Visit the CDSS CACFP web page
or call 1-833-559-2420 for more information.
- System Requirements
- File Layout Specifications
- Food Distribution Program (FDP)
- School Nutrition Programs (SNP)
- Training Registration
What is the CNIPS?
The CNIPS
is the California Department of Education's (CDE) Web-based system for administering the federal and state Nutrition Programs, including the National School Lunch and Breakfast, Food Distribution, Special Milk, Child and Adult Care Food, Summer Food Service, and Seamless Summer Feeding Option programs. This system will significantly streamline, simplify, and modernize the ways in which local educational agencies (LEAs/sponsors) administer these programs, submit applications, site changes, claims for reimbursement, and other administrative actions such as training registration.
Child Nutrition Information and Payment System - CalEdFacts
This content is part of California Department of Education's information and media guide about education in the State of California. For similar information on other topics, visit the full CalEdFacts.
CNIPS Benefits
- Submit applications, renewals/annual updates, claims for reimbursement, and site change requests online
- Increase timeliness and accuracy of claims submission, processing, and payments
- Reduce administrative burden on local agencies
- Access site and agency information across programs
CNIPS System Requirements
- A valid e-mail address
- Access to the Internet using one of the following Web browsers:
- Netscape 6.0 or later version
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or later version
- Firefox 0.8 or later version
- Adobe Reader 7.0
or later version.
This software is free.
File Layout Specifications
- CACFP Point of Sale File Layout Specification (DOC)
- CACFP Sponsor's Meal Administrative System File Layout Specification (DOC)
Effective as of July 2013. - SFSP Point of Service File Layout Specifications (DOC)
- SNP Point of Sale File Layout Specifications (DOC)
Food Distribution Program
School Nutrition Program
- Frequently Asked Questions for SNP
A list of frequently asked questions concerning School Nutrition Programs segments in the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System. - SNP CNIPS Training
- SNP Mailing List
Sign up to receive school program CNIPS) updates via e-mail.
Training Registration
- Course information, locations and registrations are available for CDE-sponsored trainings on the CNIPS Training Registration Web page.
- The CNIPS Training Registration Web page can be accessed from the CNIPS home page by clicking the Training Registration link located below the login box.
- Please note that some courses and trainings are only available to Child Nutrition Program sponsors.
- The CNIPS Training Registration Web page can be accessed from the CNIPS home page by clicking the Training Registration link located below the login box.
- For instructions on how to register, please visit the CNIPS Training Registration Web page.
