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Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Direct Certification in the National School Lunch Program Report to Congress: State Implementation Progress, SY 2015-16 and 2016-17

This report responds to the requirement of PL 110-246 to assess the effectiveness of state and local efforts to directly certify children for free school meals.

11/07/2018
Resource | Research and Data | General/Other Evaluation of Pilot Project for Procurement of Unprocessed Fruits and Vegetables

Authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, the USDA Pilot Project for Procurement of Unprocessed Fruits and Vegetables was designed to provide states with additional flexibility in the procurement of unprocessed fruits and vegetables. Participating states and school food authorities can purchase approved items with existing USDA Foods National School Lunch Program entitlement funds from any USDA Pilot-authorized vendor in support of the school meal standards.

03/30/2018
Resource | Research and Data | Food Security Evaluation of Demonstration Projects to End Childhood Hunger (EDECH): Final Interim Evaluation Report

This study—authorized by the 2010 Child Nutrition Act—tests innovative strategies to end childhood hunger. 

02/08/2018
Resource | Research and Data | Demonstrations Evaluation of Demonstration Projects to End Childhood Hunger

The 2010 Child Nutrition reauthorization provided funding to test innovative strategies to end childhood hunger and food insecurity. 

02/08/2018
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Evaluation of the National School Lunch Program Application/Verification Pilot Projects

USDA sponsored the NSLP Application/Verification Pilot Projects to test ways to improve the process for certifying students for free or reduced-price meals. This report presents findings on the impacts of two alternatives to the current application-based certification process - Up-Front Documentation and Graduated Verification - that were tested in 12 public school districts over a three-year period.

08/01/2004
Resource | Research and Data | Report to Congress Report to Congress: Evaluation of the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program

Evaluation of the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program: Report to Congress. By Jean C. Buzby, Joanne F. Guthrie, and Linda S. Kantor. Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program, Food and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research Service, USDA.

05/27/2004
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Measuring Competitive Foods in Schools

This “briefing report” summarizes research recently undertaken for FNS to develop a methodological basis for obtaining detailed information on the competitive foods sold in schools.

05/26/2004
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Case Study of National School Lunch Program Verification Outcomes in Large Metropolitan School Districts

This report presents the results of a case study of verification in 21 large metropolitan SFAs around the country. The study examined outcomes of the verification process and made an independent assessment of income eligibility of households with specific verification outcomes using data from in-person interviews with families.

04/01/2004
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Child Nutrition Program Operations Study: First Year Report

Purpose of this report is to manage the Child Nutrition programs effectively, FNS collects and analyzes information from annual State-level management reports.

08/01/1991
Page updated: September 16, 2025