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Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0022 Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements in the School Meals Programs

In light of the exceptional circumstances of this public health emergency, FNS is granting a nationwide waiver to help minimize potential exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This waiver applies to the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.

COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #9
03/27/2020
Resource | Proposed Rule Proposed Rules: Simplifying Meal Service and Monitoring Requirements in the NSLP and SBP

This rulemaking proposes changes to simplify meal pattern and monitoring requirements in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. The proposed changes, including optional flexibilities, are customer-focused and intended to help State and local Program operators overcome operational challenges that limit their ability to manage these Programs efficiently. In the National School Lunch Program, the proposed rule would add flexibility to the existing vegetable subgroups requirement.

01/23/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0005 School Breakfast Program: Continuation of the Substitution of Vegetables for Fruit Flexibility

School food authorities participating in the School Breakfast Program may continue to credit any vegetable offered, including potatoes and other starchy vegetables, in place of fruit without including vegetables from other subgroups in the weekly menus, through June 30, 2021.

SP06-2020
01/22/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0063 Updated Local Agency Procurement Review Tool for School Food Authorities for SY 2019-2020

This memorandum provides information on the updated template Local Agency Procurement Review Tool for state agencies to use, modify or develop in SY 2019-2020.

SP33-2019
08/19/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0026 Substitution of Vegetables for Fruit

This memo has been superseded by SP 06-2020: School Breakfast Program: Continuation of the Substitution of Vegetables for Fruit Flexibility.

SP16-2019
03/18/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0016 FNS-640: SY 2017-18 Instructions and Reporting Guidance

School programs policy memo SP 14-2019 provides SY 2017-18 reporting guidance for the FNS-640 report. The FNS-640 form became available in FPRS on March 1, 2019. State agencies may use the attached instructions and business rules/edit check to begin and/or finalize implementation of processes for reporting and any system updates for School Year 2017-2018 reporting.

FNS-640
03/06/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0004 Flexibility for the Administrative Review Cycle Requirement

In school year 2013-14, FNS introduced the unified administrative review and a 3-year review cycle. Since then, FNS has received feedback about the difficulties of the shorter review cycle, both for the state agencies conducting the reviews, and for school food authorities preparing for and responding to reviews.

SP12-2019
02/22/2019
Resource | Notices Comment Request - Study of School Food Authority Procurement Practices

This collection is a new information collection for the Study of School Food Authority Procurement Practices.

08/20/2018
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2018-0014 Administrative Review – Revised Manual, Forms, and Tools (SY 2018-19)

This memorandum provides information regarding the updated School Meal Programs Administrative Review Manual for School Year 2018-2019. In previous years, all AR materials have been updated annually. This school year updates to the AR process were only made in areas regarding the Fiscal Action process and Resource Management.

SP13-2018
05/15/2018
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2018-0003 Market Basket Analysis when Procuring Program Goods and Modifying Contracted-For Product Lists

This memorandum provides guidance to state distributing agencies and recipient agencies on the use of market basket analysis in procuring processed end products for USDA Foods in Schools and commercial goods for the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program. 

FD-144, SP04 SFSP01 CACFP04-2018
01/18/2018
Page updated: October 14, 2021