Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

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 | Grants Direct Certification Improvement Grant Summaries

Grant Summaries

11/23/2015
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2013-0088 Attachments to SP12-2014: RFA for Participation in Demonstration Projects to Evaluate Direct Certification with Medicaid in SY 2014-15

FNS invites state agencies that administer the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program to apply to participate in demonstration projects that will evaluate the effectiveness of conducting direct certification with the Medicaid program.

12/06/2013
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2013-0069 Transmittal of Q&As on Computation of Direct Certification Performance Rate with SNAP

The attached Q&As are issued in follow-up to Policy Memorandum SP 50-2013, Release of the new state agency Direct Certification Rate Data Element Report.

SP54-2013
08/16/2013
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2013-0058 Release of the New State Agency Direct Certification Rate Data Element Report (Form FNS-834)

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, as amended by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010  require that children living in households receiving assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program be directly certified for free school meals under the National School Lunch Program and/or the School Breakfast Program.

SP50-2013
07/01/2013
Resource | Grants Direct Certification Grants Program Proposal Response Guidance

Appendix E: Direct Certification Grants Program Proposal Response Guidance. The purpose of the Direct Certification Grants Program Proposal Response Guidance is to increase the consistency and understanding of program planning prior to grant award.

06/11/2013
Resource | Technical Assistance Performance Based Certification: Prototype Performance Work Statement, Performance Metrics, Evaluation Factors and Market Research Questionnaire Response

Attached for your use is a prototype Performance Work Statement, Evaluation Criteria and Performance Metrics document to assist state agencies that wish to procure a contract(s) to perform the performance-based reimbursement certification and other training activities to support the Certification of Compliance With Meal Requirements for the National School Lunch Program Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 Interim Rule and the new meal pattern final rule.

05/16/2012
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2011-0030 Direct Certification Benchmarks and Continuous Improvement Plans

The purpose of this memorandum is to implement provisions contained in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 which establish direct certification rate benchmarks for states and require continuous improvement plans from states that do not meet the benchmarks.

SP32-2011
04/28/2011
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2011-0029 Frequency of Direct Certification Matching Activities Beginning in SY 2011-2012

The interim rule, Direct Certification and Certification of Homeless, Migrant and Runaway Children for Free School Meals, was published on April 25, 2011. One of the provisions in this rule concerns the frequency of direct certification matching activities with the SNAP and is effective July 1, 2011.

SP31-2011
04/27/2011
Resource | Interim Final Rule Interim Rule: Direct Certification and Certification of Homeless, Migrant and Runaway Children for Free School Meals

This rule amends the regulations affecting the determination of children's eligibility for free meals under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program by direct certification and categorical eligibility. Conforming changes and miscellaneous technical changes are also made, as appropriate, for the Special Milk Program for Children, the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program.

04/25/2011
Page updated: October 14, 2021