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Resource | Infographics Stronger with School Meals Educational Materials

School meals, and the school nutrition professionals that provide them, help children be strong physically and mentally. Celebrate the school community and promote healthy foods with these fun new school meals materials.

08/04/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Local School Wellness Policies

Use these materials to bring your school community together to create strong school environments that support students’ growth, learning, and well-being. 

08/15/2022
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2011-0066 Direct Certification and Zero Benefit Households

Section 9(b)(12)(A)(i) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act restricts categorical eligibility for free school meals based on SNAP participation to children who are members of a household receiving assistance under SNAP. Therefore, a child who is a member of a household that is receiving “zero benefits” from SNAP is not categorically eligible for free meals, unless the child is categorically eligible for another reason.

SP03-2012
10/25/2011
Resource | Guidance Documents | FNS-GD-2011-0043 Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Program - A Handbook for Schools

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides all children in participating schools with a variety of free fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the school day.  It is an effective and creative way of introducing fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options. 

06/29/2011
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2010-0016 Categorical Eligibility: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

This is a reminder of the statutory and regulatory requirements for categorical eligibility for the Child Nutrition Programs based on receipt of benefits from each state’s Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program. The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act restricts categorical eligibility to those TANF programs with standards that are comparable to or more restrictive than those in effect on June 1, 1995.

SP22 CACFP10 SFSP08-2010
04/19/2010
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2009-0054 Extending Categorical Eligibility to Additional Children in a Household

This memorandum modifies the policy related to categorical eligibility for free meals or free milk for children who are members of a household receiving assistance under SNAP, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations or the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program.

SP38 CACFP08 SFSP07-2009
08/27/2009
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2007-0029 Documentation of Tier I Eligibility Determinations in the CACFP

The purpose of this memorandum is to highlight some of the results of that study, and to re-issue guidance concerning what constitutes acceptable documentation of tier I eligibility for family day care homes.

CACFP 08-2007
06/15/2007
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2006-0044 Clarification of Direct Verification

The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify state agency procedures for direct verification, especially concerning the use of Medicaid data.

SP32-2006
08/31/2006
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2006-0021 Free and Reduced Price Meal Eligibility Determinations Reauthorization 2004

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance on the impact of these modifications on the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

CACFP 10-2006
03/30/2006
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2004-0031 Verification of Income Eligibility – Reauthorization 2004 Implementation

Effective July 1, 2004, school officials verifying income eligibility for free and reduced price meals must allow households to provide documentation of income for any point in time between the month prior to application and the time the household is required to provide income documentation.

SP5-2004
08/25/2004
Page updated: October 14, 2021