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Resource | Toolkits Tools for Schools

Tools for Schools offers topic-specific policy and resource materials to assist schools in meeting the new nutrition standards. Refer to the latest regulations, find free nutrition education curricula, or get ideas for adding tasty, kid-friendly foods to enhance your school meals program.

05/16/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Local School Wellness Policies

Use these materials to bring your school community together to create strong school environments that support students’ growth, learning, and well-being. 

08/15/2022
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Nutrition Standards for School Meals

This page contains regulations, policy memos, and other guidance materials relating to the nutrition standards for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

03/11/2022
Resource | Technical Assistance Professional Standards

Professional Standards for school nutrition professionals is a key provision of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The final rule, published March 2, 2015, requires a minimum amount of annual training hours for all state directors of school nutrition programs, state director of distributing agencies, school nutrition program directors, managers, and staff.

09/08/2019
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Demonstration Projects to End Childhood Hunger

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 added a new Section 23 on Childhood Hunger Research to the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. This section provides substantial new mandatory funding to research the causes and consequences of childhood hunger and to test innovative strategies to end child hunger and food insecurity.

06/05/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0046 2017 Edition of Accommodating Children with Disabilities in the School Meal Programs

Attached is the 2017 Edition of Accommodating Children with Disabilities in the School Meal Programs. This guide provides guidance on the requirement for school food authorities to ensure equal access to Program benefits for children with disabilities, which includes providing special meals to children with a disability that restricts their diet.

SP40-2017
07/25/2017
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0041 Compliance with and Enforcement of the Buy American Provision in the NSLP

This memorandum replaces SP 24-2016, Compliance with and Enforcement of the Buy American Provision in the National School Lunch Program. It provides several updates, including suggested contract language to be utilized in solicitations, and serves to reinforce the importance of the Buy American provision to our economy and its positive effects on small and local businesses.

SP38-2017
06/30/2017
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2016-0067 Modifications to Accommodate Disabilities in the School Meal Programs

This policy memorandum includes important updates to requirements related to accommodating children with disabilities participating in the school meal programs.

SP59-2016
09/27/2016
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2016-0044 Using Federal Funds to Support FoodCorps Service Members

This memorandum clarifies how state agencies and school food authorities can use federal funds to support FoodCorps service members.

SP48 CACFP16 SFSP16-2016
07/13/2016
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2016-0012 Reporting Instructions for Form FNS-874: Local Educational Agency Second Review of Applications

Section 304 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 requires local educational agencies that demonstrate high levels of, or a high risk for administrative error associated with certification, verification and other administrative processes to conduct an independent review of the initial eligibility determinations for free and reduced price school meal applications for accuracy prior to notifying households of eligibility. 

SP29-2016
03/09/2016
Page updated: October 14, 2021