FNS Documents & Resources

This memorandum modifies the policy related to categorical eligibility for free meals or free milk for children who are members of a household receiving assistance under SNAP, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations or the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program.

This memorandum is to inform you of a recent change to the list of USDA-approved Nutrient Standard Menu Planning and School Meals Initiative nutrient analysis software programs available to state agencies, school food authorities and local schools to meet SMI requirements.

This rule finalizes the interim rule that implemented the statutory provision to prohibit direct or indirect restrictions on the sale or marketing of fluid milk on school premises or at school-sponsored events, at any time or in any place, in schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. This rule ensures that there are no policies or procedures in place that have the effect of restricting the sale or marketing of fluid milk.

This Notice announces the annual adjustments to the "national average payments,'' the amount of money the federal government provides states for lunches, afterschool snacks and breakfasts served to children participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs; to the "maximum reimbursement rates,'' the maximum per lunch rate from federal funds that a state can provide a school food authority for lunches served to children participating in the National School Lunch Program; and to the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint of milk served to non-needy children in a school or institution which participates in the Special Milk Program for Children.

We have obtained the latest school enrollment and attendance figures from the Department of Education. For your information, the updated national average daily attendance factor for use during Coordinated Review Effort for School Year 2009-2010 is 93.6 percent.

This Notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals and free milk for the period from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

We have had a number of requests for clarification regarding the use of $3,500 per review for the Fiscal Year 2009 ART grant award under Method 1. The purpose of this memorandum is to amend our cover letter and request for application for the FY 2009 ART grant, Method 1.

We have been asked to clarify what verification results to include in box 11, Did Not Respond, on the School Food Authority Verification Summary Report, FNS-742.

Recently, we have received numerous concerns regarding the improper application of the new procurement rule, Procurement Requirements for the National School Lunch, School Breakfast and Special Milk Program, which was published in the Federal Register on Oct. 31, 2007 and became effective on Nov. 30, 2007.