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FNS has developed a new version of the prototype Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application package. This “family friendly” application package has been simplified to include only the information that families need when first applying for free or reduced price meals in the school meals programs.

This guidance was issued upon our learning that a number of school food authorities were not drafting their own specifications and procurement documents for certain software acquisitions but instead directly incorporating a list of features written by a prospective bidder.

This guidance provides steps state agencies and school administrators can take to improve access to school meal programs through the application, certification, and verification processes so that all eligible children in NSLP and SBP schools have the opportunity to participate in the school meal programs.

This memorandum consolidates and supersedes previous LEP guidance and incorporates previously released USDA and FNS guidance. FNS is issuing this guidance in a Q&A format to provide responses to questions that FNS has received regarding communications with LEP individuals.

The purpose of this memorandum is to remind local educational agencies and schools that they are required to take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to school meals for eligible students from households comprised of LEP individuals. This memorandum summarizes existing USDA and FNS guidance intended to assist program participants in providing meaningful access for LEP persons. 

Recently, we were asked whether state agencies are required to make public release announcements on behalf of their CACFP institutions. If the state is not required to do so, does the state have the option to publish an announcement for CACFP institutions in conjunction with other child nutrition programs, and if so, does this announcement relieve the institutions of their responsibility for releasing a public notification?

This competitive cooperative agreement solicits applications for a national-level surveillance system that will address the most important gaps in the coverage of the existing government-funded national school wellness policy surveillance systems.

The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 amended sections of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act affecting the eligibility determination process for free and reduced price benefits under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and the Special Milk Program for Children.