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Resource | Policy Memos Determining Eligibility for Severe Need Reimbursement Rates for the School Breakfast Program and the Two Cent Differential Reimbursement for the National School Lunch Program in SY 2023-24

The purpose of this guidance is to clarify how to determine eligibility in SY 2023-24 for severe need reimbursement for breakfasts served through the School Breakfast Program and for the two cent differential reimbursement for lunches served through the National School Lunch Program. This guidance provides clarification to SP 11-2022, Determining Eligibility for Severe Need Reimbursement for the School Breakfast Program and the Two Cent Differential Reimbursement for the National School Lunch Program in School Years 2022-23 and 2023-24

SP 02-2023
01/30/2023
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0173 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Area Eligibility for Closed Enrolled Sites in the SFSP and the NSLP Seamless Summer Option – Extension 2

Under this waiver, for all states, Summer Food Service Program and National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option closed enrolled sites during the COVID-19 public health emergency may determine site eligibility through area eligibility without collecting income eligibility applications.

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #64
10/09/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0009 Community Eligibility Provision: Annual Notification and Publication Requirements

This memorandum details guidance on the annual Community Eligibility Provision notification and publication requirements and provides information on the USDA-developed reporting template.

SP20-2017
03/16/2017
Resource | Final Rule Final Rule: Direct Certification of Eligibility for Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk in Schools

 This rule amends the regulations governing the determination of eligibility for free and reduced price school meals under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program or free milk in schools participating in the Special Milk Program.

11/20/2014
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2014-0051 Eligibility Effective Date for Directly Certified Students

This memorandum addresses inquiries regarding flexibility in determining the effective date of eligibility for students who are directly certified to receive free meals or free milk in the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, and the Special Milk Program.

SP51-2014
06/19/2014
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2014-0022 Determining Eligibility for Two Cent Differential Reimbursement in New Schools

Section 4 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act provides general cash for food assistance payments to states to assist schools in purchasing food. The NSLA provides two different section 4 payment levels for lunches served under the NSLP.

SP30-2014
03/28/2014
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2014-0001 Guidance on Income Eligibility Determinations and Duration

This memorandum provides guidance and clarification regarding individual income eligibility determinations and durations in the CACFP and the SFSP.

CACFP07 SFSP12-2014
01/16/2014
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2013-0086 Effective Date of Free or Reduced Price Meal Eligibility Determinations

This memorandum clarifies the flexibility available to local educational agency officials for establishing the effective date of eligibility for children certified for free or reduced price meals in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs and free milk in the Special Milk Program based on household applications.

SP11 CACFP06 SFSP11-2014
12/03/2013
Resource | Proposed Rule Proposed Rule: NSLP and SBP Eliminating Applications Through Community Eligibility as Required by the HHFKA of 2010

This rule proposes to amend the eligibility regulations for free and reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program to codify the statutory provision that establishes the community eligibility provision, a reimbursement option for eligible local educational agencies and schools that wish to offer free school meals to all children in high poverty schools without collecting household applications.

11/04/2013
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2013-0012 Eligibility Based on Census Data: 2013 Data Release

This memorandum has been superseded by SP10 CACFP04 SFSP03-2015: Area Eligibility in Child Nutrition Programs.

CACFP06 SFSP11-2013
02/21/2013
Page updated: October 14, 2021