FNS Documents & Resources

This rule proposes to amend the regulations governing procedures related to the procurement of goods and services in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and Special Milk Program to remedy deficiencies identified in audits and program reviews.

This final rule makes a technical change to the regulations governing the nutrient analysis of meals served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs.

This memorandum is in response to questions raised by the Connecticut state agency.

Several data sources, including information on free and reduced price eligibility status changed as a result of verification, indicate that there is a significant problem with inaccurate certifications for free/reduced price meal benefits in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Therefore, it is imperative that both state agencies and FNS make every effort to validate the accuracy of eligibility determinations.

This Notice announces the annual adjustments to: (1) 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; (2) 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 (3) 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.

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 or free milk for the period from July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005.

The Food and Nutrition Service, Food Distribution Division, will hold a meeting to discuss methods of value-pass-through of USDA donated commodities in food service management company fixed-rate-per- meal contracts in the National School Lunch Program. The purpose of this meeting is to offer state agencies, school food authorities, advocacy groups, food service management companies, and other interested parties the opportunity for dialogue prior to proposed rulemaking.

Provision 2 requires that the school serve meals to participating children at no charge but reduces application burdens to once every 4 years and simplifies meal counting and claiming procedures by allowing a school to receive meal reimbursement based on claiming percentages.

This rule proposes to amend the reporting and recordkeeping requirements under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Special Milk Program relating to the verification of free and reduced price meal applications.

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; 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 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.