CACFP 115 Form - Fill Out and Use This PDF

CACFP 115 Daily Attendance Record - Form Details

The CACFP 115 form is the required daily attendance record for providers participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The CACFP is a federal nutrition assistance program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service. It provides reimbursement funding to approved child care centers, family day care homes, adult day care facilities, at-risk afterschool programs, and emergency shelters that serve nutritious meals and snacks to eligible participants each day.

What the CACFP 115 Form Documents

This form captures attendance data for a full calendar month. Providers list each enrolled participant's name in the left column, one name per row. For every day of the month, the provider marks P for present or A for absent. Totals are calculated at the end of each row. At the bottom of the form, providers enter the CACFP program identifier, sponsor or site name, and a page number to help staff organize multi-page submissions when a program has a large number of participants. All fields must be completed accurately before the form is filed or used to support a reimbursement claim.

Who Must Complete This Form

All CACFP-approved providers are required to complete a CACFP 115 form each month that meals are served. This applies to child care centers caring for children up to age 13, adult day care programs, family day care home sponsors, at-risk afterschool meal programs, and emergency shelters participating in CACFP. Sponsors that oversee multiple care sites must collect a completed attendance form from every location under their administration. Each individual facility completes its own form rather than combining data from multiple sites onto a single record.

Why Accurate Attendance Records Are Required

The attendance data recorded on CACFP 115 forms determines how much federal reimbursement a provider can claim each month. USDA meal reimbursement is calculated based on the number of eligible participants present on each day a qualifying meal is served. Incomplete or inaccurate records can result in reduced reimbursements, compliance findings during program reviews, or a requirement to return funds already paid. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. All providers receiving CACFP funding must comply with applicable nondiscrimination requirements and maintain complete documentation to support every reimbursement claim they submit to their state agency.

Retention and Audit Requirements

CACFP providers are required to retain completed attendance records, including all CACFP 115 forms, for a minimum of three years after the end of the applicable program year. State agency reviewers and USDA auditors may request these records during scheduled or unannounced compliance reviews. Providers who cannot produce complete attendance documentation risk loss of reimbursement, suspension from the program, or permanent termination of CACFP participation. Keeping organized records by month and program year helps providers respond to information requests quickly and avoids disruption to daily meal service operations.

Alternative Names for This Form

The CACFP 115 form is known by several alternative names in practice. Some providers refer to it as the CACFP daily attendance sheet, the CACFP 115 attendance record, or simply the CACFP sign-in form. The form number 115 is the standard designation used by state agencies and USDA program administrators. Related forms used in the program include the CACFP 116, which tracks meal counts, and various state-specific attendance documents that some agencies require in addition to or in place of the federal form. Always confirm with your state agency which forms are required for your program type and funding tier.