National School Lunch Program

 In FY 2019, schools served over 4.8 billion lunches to children nationwide.

 In FY 2019, schools served over 4.8 billion lunches to children nationwide.

Feeding the Future with Healthy School Lunches

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.

Program Fact Sheet
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State Agency Program Operator Household

What's New?

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USDA/USDC Authorized Labels and Manufacturers
Technical Assistance & Guidance
Child Nutrition Tables
Data
Nationwide Waiver of Local School Wellness Policy Triennial Assessments in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs
Policy Memos
USDA Foods in Schools Foods Product Information Sheets - Meat/Meat Alternates
Product Information
Nationwide Waiver to Provide Flexibility for School Meal Programs Administrative Reviews of SFAs Operating Only the SSO in SY 2021-22
Policy Memos
Child Nutrition Programs: Non-Competitive Technology Innovation Grant Funding
Notices
Department of Education Information on the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
Policy Memos
Information Collection: Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer
Notices
FACT SHEET: Update on USDA Activities to Contain the COVID-19 Pandemic
News Item
Questions and Answers Regarding Child Nutrition Program Oversight, Administration, and Reporting During COVID-19
Policy Memos
Oversight Plan Waiver
Policy
School Meals Operations Study: Evaluation of the COVID-19 Child Nutrition Waivers and Child Nutrition Programs
Notices
Nationwide Waiver to Allow Specific School Meal Pattern Flexibility for School Year 2021-2022
Policy Memos
Child Nutrition Nationwide Waiver Update for School Year 2021-2022
Policy Memos
Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements in the School Meal Programs – Revised – EXTENSION 3
Policy Memos
Nationwide Waiver of Area Eligibility in the Afterschool Programs and for Family Day Care Home Providers in School Year 2021-2022
Policy Memos

Spotlights

Smart Snacks in Schools

Tools for Schools: Focusing on Smart Snacks

A number of tools and resources are available to help schools identify food items that meet Smart Snacks criteria. See the resources below for information about the Smart Snacks requirement, helpful tools, and ways to encourage children to make healthier snack choices that give them the nutrition they need to grow and learn.

Verification Toolkit
Community Eligibility Provision