Skip to main content
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States Government.
Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

SSL

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

USDA-FNS
  • COVID-19
  • Contact Us
  • Report Fraud
  • Ask USDA
  • USDA.gov
USDA-FNS
  • Home
    • Data & Research
    • Research & Analysis
    • Program Data
    • Child Nutrition Tables
    • Food Distribution Program Tables
    • SNAP Tables
    • Puerto Rico NAP Tables
    • WIC Data Tables
    • Grants
    • Financial Management
    • Newsroom
    • Farm Bill
    • Federal Register Documents
    • FNS Blogs
    • FNS Infographics
    • FNS Press Releases
    • Notice to Stakeholders
    • USDA Press Releases
    • USDA Blogs
    • Webinars & Videos
    • Contact FNS Press Office
    • Resources
    • Fact Sheets
    • Federal Register
    • Guidance Documents
    • Policy Memos
    • Videos/Webinars
    • All Resources
    • Our Agency
    • Our Administrator
    • Our Deputy Under Secretary
    • Contact us
    • Civil Rights
    • Core Nutrition Messages
    • FNS Partnerships
    • Freedom of Information Act
    • FNS Human Resources
    • State Systems Office
    • Programs
    • Child and Adult Care Food Program
    • Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
    • Community Food Systems
    • Commodity Supplemental Food Program
    • Farmers Market Nutrition Program
    • FNS Disaster Assistance
    • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
    • Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
    • Food Safety
    • National School Lunch Program
    • School Breakfast Program
    • Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program
    • SNAP
    • Special Milk Program
    • Summer Food Service Program
    • Team Nutrition
    • TEFAP
    • USDA Foods in Schools
    • WIC

PART 210—National School Lunch Program

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
Resource type
Regulations

Section 2 of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751), states: “It is declared to be the policy of Congress, as a measure of national security, to safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation's children and to encourage the domestic consumption of nutritious agricultural commodities and other food, by assisting the states, through grants-in-aid and other means, in providing an adequate supply of food and other facilities for the establishment, maintenance, operation, and expansion of nonprofit school lunch programs.” Pursuant to this act, the Department provides states with general and special cash assistance and donations of foods acquired by the Department to be used to assist schools in serving nutritious lunches to children each school day. In furtherance of Program objectives, participating schools shall serve lunches that are nutritionally adequate, as set forth in these regulations, and shall to the extent practicable, ensure that participating children gain a full understanding of the relationship between proper eating and good health.

This part sets forth the requirements for participation in the National School Lunch and Commodity School Programs. It specifies Program responsibilities of state and local officials in the areas of program administration, preparation and service of nutritious lunches, the sale of competitive foods, payment of funds, use of program funds, program monitoring, and reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Subpart A—General

§210.1   General purpose and scope.
§210.2   Definitions.
§210.3   Administration.

Subpart B—Reimbursement Process for States and School Food Authorities

§210.4   Cash and donated food assistance to states.
§210.5   Payment process to states.
§210.6   Use of Federal funds.
§210.7   Reimbursement for school food authorities.
§210.8   Claims for reimbursement.

Subpart C—Requirements for School Food Authority Participation

§210.9   Agreement with state agency.
§210.10   Meal requirements for lunches and requirements for afterschool snacks.
§210.11   Competitive food service and standards.
§210.12   Student, parent, and community involvement.
§210.13   Facilities management.
§210.14   Resource management.
§210.15   Reporting and recordkeeping.
§210.16   Food service management companies.

Subpart D—Requirements for State Agency Participation

§210.17   Matching Federal funds.
§210.18   Administrative reviews.
§210.19   Additional responsibilities.
§210.20   Reporting and recordkeeping.

Subpart E—State Agency and School Food Authority Responsibilities

§210.21   Procurement.
§210.22   Audits.
§210.23   Other responsibilities.

Subpart F—Additional Provisions

§210.24   Withholding payments.
§210.25   Suspension, termination and grant closeout procedures.
§210.26   Penalties.
§210.27   Educational prohibitions.
§210.28   Pilot project exemptions.
§210.29   Management evaluations.
§210.30   School nutrition program professional standards.
§210.31   Local school wellness policy.
§210.32   State agency and regional office addresses.
§210.33   OMB control numbers.

Appendix A to Part 210—Alternate Foods for Meals
Appendix B to Part 210 [Reserved]
Appendix C to Part 210—Child Nutrition Labeling Program

09/06/2017
  • Home
  • Data & Research
  • Grants
  • Newsroom
  • Resources
  • Our Agency
  • Programs
  • USDA
  • USA.gov
  • WhiteHouse.gov
  • FNS PartnerWeb.gov
  • No Fear Act
  • Privacy Policy
  • Non-Discrimination Statement
  • Civil Rights
  • FOIA
  • Information Quality
  • Peer Review
  • Accessibility

Sign up for Updates

USDA-FNS
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Gov Delivery
  • Instagram
  • Flickr
  • Youtube