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Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0076 Smoothies Offered in the Child Nutrition Programs

This memorandum clarifies juice and yogurt allowances based on the child care and preschool meal pattern updates and incorporates the meal pattern flexibilities related to flavored milk. The flavored milk flexibilities apply to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Special Milk Program for Children effective beginning in school year 2019-2020.

SP40 CACFP17 SFSP17-2019
09/23/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0074 Meal Requirements under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Q&As for Program Operators

This memorandum rescinds and replaces memorandum SP 10-2012 (v. 9), Questions and Answers on the Final Rule “Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, dated Aug. 3, 2015.

SP38-2019
09/23/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0073 Q&As on the Final Rule Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements

Attached are Q&As on the final rule Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements (83 FR 63775, Dec. 12, 2018), which provides menu planning flexibilities in the child nutrition programs beginning July 1, 2019.

SP37 CACFP16-2019
09/23/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0066 Crediting Coconut, Hominy, Corn Masa and Masa Harina in the Child Nutrition Programs

This memorandum rescinds and replaces SP 22-2019, CACFP 09-2019, SFSP 08-2019 Crediting Coconut, Hominy, Corn Masa, and Corn Flour in the Child Nutrition Programs. This updated memorandum provides guidance on crediting coconut (including dried coconut), hominy, corn masa, and masa harina and clarifies how to identify popular products made from corn that can credit towards the grain requirements in the child nutrition programs, including the NSLP, SBP, CACFP and SFSP.

SP34 CACFP15 SFSP15-2019
08/22/2019
Resource | FAQs/Q&As | FNS-GD-2019-0009 Summer Food Service Program Sponsor FAQs

SFSP is administered at the federal level by FNS. FNS decides overall program policy and publishes regulations and payment rates.

02/27/2019
Resource | FAQs/Q&As | FNS-GD-2019-0007 School Meals FAQs

School meals are required to meet specific nutrition standards to operate the school meals programs. The standards align school meals with the latest nutrition science and the real world circumstances of America’s schools. 

02/27/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2018-0042 National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Questions and Answers for Charter Schools

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) along with other child nutrition programs (CNPs) administered by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) make it possible for schools to serve wholesome and appealing meals to students each day.

SP03-2019
11/14/2018
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2018-0008 Reducing School Meal Certification Error through Improved Online Application Design

This memorandum provides guidance to states, local operators, and their software vendors on strategies for leveraging the design flexibilities of online free and reduced price school meal applications to reduce household reporting mistakes and certification errors.

SP09-2018
03/05/2018
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0044 Eligibility Manual for School Meals

The manual provides comprehensive information on federal requirements, policies, and procedures, and is intended to help state agencies and local educational agencies accurately determine, certify, and verify children’s eligibility for free and reduced price school meals and free milk.

SP36 CACFP15 SFSP11-2017
07/05/2017
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0045 Flexibility for Co-Mingled Preschool Meals: Questions and Answers

This memorandum provides guidance on meals served to preschoolers when they are in the same service area at the same time as grade K-5 students, and it includes Questions and Answers. Additional guidance on the National School Lunch Program’s and School Breakfast Program’s infant and preschool meal pattern requirements will be issued soon.

SP37-2017
06/30/2017
Page updated: October 14, 2021