Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Nutrition Standards for School Meals

This page contains regulations, policy memos, and other guidance materials relating to the nutrition standards for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

03/11/2022
Resource | Forms FNS-674: User Access Request Form

Form FNS-674 is used to request access to the USDA Food Program Reporting System (FPRS).  

FNS-674
04/09/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0089 FD-146: Questions and Answers about Distribution Procedures in TEFAP

This memorandum provides information on current flexibilities in distribution procedures that are available for state agencies that administer TEFAP. 

FD-146
11/14/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0039 Distribution of TEFAP Foods to Children (Revised)

This memorandum provides guidance on the distribution of USDA Foods under TEFAP to children through Kids Cafe, Backpack, or similar programs.

FD-041
06/30/2017
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2016-0042 Ensuring Access to Free and Reduced Price School Meals for Low-Income Students

This guidance provides steps state agencies and school administrators can take to improve access to school meal programs through the application, certification, and verification processes so that all eligible children in NSLP and SBP schools have the opportunity to participate in the school meal programs.

SP43-2016
08/10/2016
Resource | Final Rule Final Rule: Administrative Reviews in the School Nutrition Programs

This final rule revises the state agency's administrative review process in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program to establish a unified accountability system designed to ensure that school food authorities offering school meals comply with program requirements.

07/29/2016
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2016-0045 Unpaid Meal Charges: Local Meal Charge Policies

The purpose of this memorandum is to address the need for school food authorities participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program to institute and clearly communicate a meal charge policy, which would include, if applicable, the availability of alternate meals.

SP46-2016
07/08/2016
Resource | Final Rule Final Rule: Nondiscretionary Amendments Related to the HHFKA of 2010

This final rule implements several nondiscretionary provisions of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, including those related to categorical eligibility for foster children, removal of limits on private nonprofit sponsors, outreach to eligible families, simplification of area eligibility for day care homes, application of school food safety requirements, and permanent agreements for institutions and sponsors.

02/28/2013
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2011-0056 Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications – Requests for Additional Information

This memorandum responds to questions received from regional offices, state agencies and local educational agencies (LEAs) regarding applications for free and reduced price school meals that request the applicant to provide information that is not required for a student’s certification of eligibility for child nutrition programs.

SP50 CACFP27 SFSP20-2011
09/30/2011
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
Page updated: October 14, 2021