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Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Menu Planner for School Meals

The Menu Planner for School Meals has been revised to reflect the Child Nutrition Programs: Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Final Rule that was published in February 2022.

FNS-631
08/24/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance USDA School Meals: Together, We Can Give Kids a Healthier Future

For children to grow and reach their full potential, it is critical that they have access to nutritious foods and develop lifelong healthy dietary habits.

02/03/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance The Whole Grain Resource for the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs

The revised Whole Grain Resource for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs is a comprehensive guide to determine whether a grain product is whole grain-rich or can credit as enriched in school meals.

12/13/2022
Resource | Federal Register Documents National School Lunch, Special Milk, and School Breakfast Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates

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 NSLP and SBPs; to 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 NSLP; and to the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint of milk served to non-needy children in a school or institution that participates in the SMP for Children.

07/26/2022
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Support for Child Nutrition Program Operators

This table shows the estimated additional funding that school meal and child and adult day care providers will receive for school year 2022-23.

07/22/2022
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 | Notices School Meals Programs - National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates (July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022)

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; to 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 to the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint of milk served to non-needy children in a school or institution that participates in the Special Milk Program for Children.

07/16/2021
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Offering Smoothies as Part of Reimbursable School Meals

This training guide provides menu planning ideas, crediting tips, sample menus, and more to show school nutrition professionals how both scratch-made and commercially-prepared smoothies can be offered as part of a reimbursable school breakfast or lunch. 

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06/30/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0039 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program Reimbursement Rates in SY 2021-22

This waiver allows school food authorities to claim National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option meals and snacks at the Summer Food Service Program reimbursement rates. This waiver applies to state agencies administering, and local organizations operating, the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option in school year 2021-22. 

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #86
04/20/2021
Resource | Reimbursement Rates National School Lunch, Special Milk, and School Breakfast Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates (July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020)

This Notice supersedes the notice published in the Aug. 7, 2019 issue of the Federal Register entitled National School Lunch, Special Milk, and School Breakfast Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates (FR Doc. 84-38590). It establishes new reimbursement rates for Guam and Virgin Islands to match the reimbursement rate provided to Puerto Rico, and corrects an incorrect date.

11/01/2019
Page updated: October 14, 2021