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Resource | Toolkits Tools for Schools

Tools for Schools offers topic-specific policy and resource materials to assist schools in meeting the new nutrition standards. Refer to the latest regulations, find free nutrition education curricula, or get ideas for adding tasty, kid-friendly foods to enhance your school meals program.

05/16/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Nutrition Standards for School Meals

This page contains regulations, policy memos, and other guidance materials relating to the nutrition standards for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

03/11/2022
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0046 2017 Edition of Accommodating Children with Disabilities in the School Meal Programs

Attached is the 2017 Edition of Accommodating Children with Disabilities in the School Meal Programs. This guide provides guidance on the requirement for school food authorities to ensure equal access to Program benefits for children with disabilities, which includes providing special meals to children with a disability that restricts their diet.

SP40-2017
07/25/2017
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2016-0067 Modifications to Accommodate Disabilities in the School Meal Programs

This policy memorandum includes important updates to requirements related to accommodating children with disabilities participating in the school meal programs.

SP59-2016
09/27/2016
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2014-0014 New Q&As Related to the Certification of Compliance with Meal Requirements for the NSLP

Attached are revised Questions and Answers related to the final rule entitled, Certification of Compliance with Meal Requirements for the National School Lunch Program under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

SP26-2014
03/14/2014
Resource | Final Rule Final Rule: Certification of Compliance With Meal Requirements for the National School Lunch Program Under the HHFKA of 2010

This final rule adopts, with some revisions, changes to the NSLP regulations, as set forth in the interim final rule published in the Federal Register on April 27, 2012. The changes conform to requirements contained in the Healthy, Hunger- Free Kids Act of 2010 regarding performance-based cash assistance for school food authorities certified compliant with meal pattern and nutrition standards.

01/03/2014
Resource | Technical Assistance Software Approval Material for Alternates to USDA Certification Worksheets

These materials were compiled to assist companies who are developing or revising certification of compliance/menu planning software for USDA to approve for use in certification of compliance with the National School Lunch Program meal pattern requirements.

07/01/2013
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2013-0054 SNP Administrative Reviews: Assessing Compliance Using an Approved Menu Planning Tool

FNS recently released the new Administrative Review Guidance Manual, which includes four options that state agencies may use to assess compliance with Dietary Specifications – calories, saturated fat, and sodium – requirements. 

SP46-2013
06/14/2013
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2013-0030 Enhancing the School Food Safety Program FAQs

This memorandum and its attachment supersede SP-37-2011, Child Nutrition 2010: Enhancing the School Food Safety Program. Attached are questions and answers regarding the school food safety requirements for schools participating in FNS child nutrition programs.

SP37-2013
04/26/2013
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2013-0005 Quarterly Reporting Associated with School Food Authority Certification for Performance-Based Reimbursement

This memorandum provides information regarding the state agencies’ quarterly reporting requirements associated with identifying the number of school food authorities certified to receive the performance-based reimbursement for each lunch served in compliance with the new meal pattern requirements for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.

SP20-2013
01/22/2013
Page updated: October 14, 2021