Updated School Meal Guidance
FNS is issuing a suite of memoranda providing updated guidance for operators in the child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program.
Salad Bars in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program
This memorandum supersedes policy memo SP 31-2013, “Salad Bars in the National School Lunch Program,” dated March 27, 2013. This revision includes policy changes and general updates to outdated resources/website links and updated questions and answers.
Smoothies Offered in the Child Nutrition Programs
This memorandum clarifies juice and yogurt allowances based on the child care and preschool meal pattern updates and incorporates the meal pattern flexibilities related to flavored milk. The flavored milk flexibilities apply to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Special Milk Program for Children effective beginning in school year 2019-2020.
Clarification on the Milk and Water Requirements in the School Meal Program
This memorandum rescinds and replaces SP19-2018, issued Aug. 6, 2018. This updated memorandum clarifies regulations that water made available to students in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program shall not compete with the milk requirement.
Meal Requirements under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Q&As for Program Operators
This memorandum rescinds and replaces memorandum SP 10-2012 (v. 9), Questions and Answers on the Final Rule “Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs,” dated Aug. 3, 2015.
Q&As on the Final Rule Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements
Attached are Questions and Answers (QAs) on the final rule Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements (83 FR 63775, Dec. 12, 2018), which provides menu planning flexibilities in the child nutrition programs beginning July 1, 2019.
Requirements for Students Transferring from Provision to non-Provision Schools
This memorandum reminds state and local program operators about a provision in the final rule effective on July 1, 2019, relating to free and reduced price eligibility for students transferring between LEAs during the school year.
Reminder Concerning E-Rate Audits by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
We were asked by the FCC to issue a reminder about cooperating with contractors auditing school districts’ receipt of funds under the FCC’s E-Rate fund. Auditing for the current cycle is scheduled to begin in December 2008.