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Resource | Policy Revised Prototype Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals

This memorandum provides information on the revised Prototype Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals. USDA updated the prototype application to improve the user experience for applicants by adjusting the reading level, streamlining the application instructions, and by adding clarity to the mailing instructions to reduce the number of applications sent to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.

SP16-2023
05/11/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Rural Designations in the Summer Meal Programs - Revised

The purpose of this memorandum is to revise guidance on rural designations in the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program’s Seamless Summer Option (SSO). The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 authorized a permanent non-congregate meal service option through the SFSP and SSO for children who live in rural communities with no congregate meal service. This memorandum supersedes SFSP policy memorandum SFSP 17-2015, Rural Designations in the Summer Food Service Program – Revised, April 21, 2017.

SFSP 04-2024, SP 06-2024
03/06/2023
Resource | FAQs/Q&As | FNS-GD-2007-0022 Questions and Answers on Alternate Protein Products

The term "Alternate Protein Product" is the name used by FNS to identify products meeting requirements set forth in Appendix A of the NSLP, SBP, SFSP, and the CACFP within the section entitled Alternate Protein Products.

10/04/2022
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance | FNS-GD-2018-0001 Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs

The Food Buying Guide for child nutrition programs has all of the current information in one manual to help you and your purchasing agent buy the right amount of food and the appropriate type of food for your program(s), and determine the specific contribution each food makes toward the meal pattern requirements.

07/11/2022
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0085 Child Nutrition Emergency Operational Costs Reimbursement Programs: Q&As #3

This memorandum applies to state agencies administering the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program. This document details further instructions and administrative procedures for participation in the reimbursement program established in Sec. 722 of the Act, which makes funding available via state agencies to program operators for the purposes of covering emergency operating costs incurred during the public health emergency

SP20 CACFP16-2021
08/11/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0091 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Operations for SY 2021-22 during COVID-19

This memorandum includes questions and answers intended to provide clarification on the operation of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program during implementation of alternative child nutrition program operations throughout school year 2021-22 due to the continued novel coronavirus public health emergency.

SP19-2021
08/09/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0032 Child Nutrition Emergency Operational Costs Reimbursement Programs: State Agency Implementation Plan Template and Q&A Guidance

This memorandum announces the release of the state agency supplemental implementation plan templates for use in the Child Nutrition Emergency Operational Costs Reimbursement Programs.

SP09 CACFP07-2021
03/15/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0085 Federal Micro-Purchase and Simplified Acquisition Thresholds

This memorandum, SP20 CACFP07 SFSP06-2019, notifies all child nutrition program state agencies and program operators of guidance the Food and Nutrition Service received from the Office of Management and Budget, OMB M-18-18, authorizing increases to the value of the micro-purchase and simplified acquisition thresholds.

SP20 CACFP07 SFSP06-2019
10/30/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2018-0049 Update of Food Crediting in the Child Nutrition Programs

This memorandum informs stakeholders on the progress made by FNS in updating the food crediting system for all child nutrition programs. This is a first step towards improving the crediting system to best address today’s evolving food and nutrition environment and meet the needs of those operating and benefiting from the CNPs.

SP08 CACFP02 SFSP02-2019
12/04/2018
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2016-0086 2017 Edition of Questions and Answers for the National School Lunch Program’s Seamless Summer Option

This memorandum consolidates the recent policy changes in the NSLP,  SBP, and SFSP that affect the implementation of the Seamless Summer Option. This memorandum and its attachment supersede SP 37-2015, 2015 Edition of Questions and Answers for the National School Lunch Program’s Seamless Summer Option, May 22, 2015.

SP09-2017
12/01/2016
Page updated: October 14, 2021