Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Resource | Infographics Implementation Timeline for Updating the School Meal Standards

School meals will continue to include fruits and vegetables, emphasize whole grains, and give kids the right balance of nutrients for healthy, tasty meals. For the first time, schools will focus on products with less added sugar, especially in school breakfast.

04/24/2024
Resource | Infographics How We Got Here: School Nutrition Standards Final Rule

School nutrition professionals continue to make school meals the healthiest meals children eat in a day! To take school meals to the next level, USDA is updating the school nutrition standards after considering recommendations from the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans and listening to a diverse range of voices with experience in child nutrition and health.

04/24/2024
Data
FNS-828 School Food Authority Paid Lunch Price Report Data

USDA has established procedures to annually collect and publish the paid lunch prices charged by school food authorities.

07/24/2023
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-2021-0032 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-2017-0058 Revised SY16-17 SFA-3 Administrative Review Form for FNS-640 Reporting

This memorandum provides the SY 2016-2017 SFA-3 with revised instructions that provide additional information and clarifications to the previously released form’s instructions. The revised instructions will assist with the completion of the FNS-640 report that is due on March 1, 2018.

SP43-2017
09/12/2017
Resource | Policy | FNS-GD-2013-0036 Federal Small Purchase Threshold Adjustment

This memo clarifies the small purchase threshold applicable to procurements under FNS programs.

SP01 CACFP01 SFSP01-2013
04/30/2013
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2012-0062 Offering School Food Authorities the Required Value and Variety of USDA Foods, and Efficient and Cost-Effective Distribution

The purpose of this policy memorandum is to provide direction and guidance to SDAs in order to ensure compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements, and to make certain that all SFAs receive their planned assistance level and maximize their use of USDA Foods to meet the nutrition standards in the NSLP.

FD-125
10/11/2012
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2011-0007 Guidance in Crediting for, and Use of Donated Foods in Contracts with Food Service Management Companies

The purpose of this policy memorandum is to provide guidance in ensuring compliance with requirements in Subpart D of 7 CFR Part 250 with respect to crediting for, and use of donated foods in contracts with food service management companies (FSMCs).

FD-080
01/25/2011
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2010-0001 School Food Authorities Acting as a Collective Unit in the Control and Use of Donated Foods (Revised)

This memorandum clarifies the requirements and options for school food authorities acting as a collective unit in performing activities relating to donated foods. It also clarifies the requirements for the distributing agency with respect to such SFAs.

FD-067, SP15-2010
01/19/2010
Page updated: October 14, 2021