FNS Documents & Resources

The CEP resource center provides extensive resources for parents, teachers, and school officials at the local, state and Federal level to better understand CEP and its positive benefits, along with useful tools to help facilitate successful implementation of the provision in your school!

Esta hoja de consejos fue diseñada para proporcionarles a los profesionales del servicio de alimentos de la escuela un resumen de las guías de Ofrecer versus Servir para el servicio de almuerzo.

Esta hoja de consejos fue diseñada para proporcionarles a los profesionales del servicio de alimentos de la escuela un resumen de las guías de Ofrecer versus Servir para el servicio de desayuno.

This tip sheet was designed for school foodservice professionals to provide an overview of Offer versus Serve guidance for breakfast meal service.

This tip sheet was designed for school foodservice professionals to provide an overview of Offer versus Serve guidance for lunch meal service.

During the public health emergency due to COVID-19, FNS waives, for all states, requirements that limit the use of Offer versus Serve to school food authorities and require sponsors to apply OVS under the rules followed for the National School Lunch Program.

FNS is establishing a nationwide waiver to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus for school year 2020-21.

School meals are required to meet specific nutrition standards to operate the school meals programs. The standards align school meals with the latest nutrition science and the real world circumstances of America’s schools. 

Offer versus Serve is a provision in the NSLP and School Breakfast Program that allows students to decline some of the food offered. The goals of OVS are to reduce food waste in the school meals programs while permitting students to decline foods they do not intend to eat. 

Section 4 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act provides general cash for food assistance payments to states to assist schools in purchasing food. The NSLA provides two different section 4 payment levels for lunches served under the NSLP.