FNS Documents & Resources

This memorandum provides guidance on the process state agencies and SFAs should use when assessing requests to fund nutrition education related expenses from the nonprofit school food service account.

FNS considers access to a healthy school meal a critical function of child nutrition programs. FNS Instruction 782-6 established the longstanding policy that children participating in the school meal programs not be charged any additional fees for services provided in conjunction with the delivery of these programs.

This memorandum provides additional guidance to assist in implementing the final rule, Administrative Reviews in School Nutrition Programs, effective Sept. 27, 2016. The guidance included in this memorandum is intended to assist with the completion of administrative reviews conducted after this effective date.

This memorandum provides revised policy guidance on certification periods pertaining to zero income households in FDPIR. FNS Handbook 501 provides that households who report zero income month after month must be asked as to how they sustain themselves and other household members.

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance regarding state agency responsibilities to establish limitations on the frequency of specially exempted fundraisers in schools.

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide questions and answers to help Indian Tribal Organizations and state agencies implement provisions of the final rule: Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations: Income Deductions & Resource Eligibility.

This memorandum clarifies FNS regulations and policies regarding the allowability of requiring payment and soliciting contributions (i.e., "payments" or "pay") in exchange for foods from FNS program participants.

This memorandum updates and revises memoranda SP30-2008: Applying Geographic Preferences in Procurements for the Child Nutrition Programs, SP08-2009: Procurement Questions, and SP28-2009: Procurement Questions, regarding school food authorities’ and other institutions’ application of a geographic preference in procurements for the child nutrition programs.

This memorandum is being issued to emphasize that states may use TEFAP administrative funds to pay for direct and indirect expenses associated with both the distribution of TEFAP foods and of foods secured from other non-federal sources. Foods secured from other sources is defined as any foods not obtained from USDA food assistance programs.

Policy Memoranda FD-063, Household Eligibility Determinations for Disaster or Emergency Evacuees Residing with a Host Family (dated Dec. 4, 2006), and FD-072, FDPIR Households Displaced During a Disaster (dated Feb. 19, 2008), are cancelled.