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Resource | Research and Data Direct Certification in the National School Lunch Program: State Implementation Progress, SY 2012–13: Report to Congress

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. Direct certification is a process conducted by the states and by local educational agencies to certify eligible children for free meals without the need for household applications.

12/05/2013
Resource | Policy Memos Effective Date of Free or Reduced Price Meal Eligibility Determinations

This memorandum clarifies the flexibility available to local educational agency officials for establishing the effective date of eligibility for children certified for free or reduced price meals in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs and free milk in the Special Milk Program based on household applications.

12/03/2013
Resource | Technical Assistance NSLP Afterschool Snack Service - FAQs

The National School Lunch Program Afterschool Snack Service is a federally-assisted snack service that provides cash reimbursement to encourage or assist schools in serving snacks to children after the regular school day. The afterschool snack component of the NSLP helps children fully engage in afterschool programming by filling the hunger gap many children face in the afternoon and early evening. Children participating in an approved afterschool care program age 18 and under, and participating children who turn 19 during the school year, are eligible to receive reimbursable snacks through the NSLP.

11/12/2013
Resource | Proposed Rule Proposed Rule: NSLP and SBP Eliminating Applications Through Community Eligibility as Required by the HHFKA of 2010

This rule proposes to amend the eligibility regulations for free and reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program to codify the statutory provision that establishes the community eligibility provision, a reimbursement option for eligible local educational agencies and schools that wish to offer free school meals to all children in high poverty schools without collecting household applications.

11/04/2013
Resource | Guidance Documents The Food Allergy Book

The Food Allergy Book: What School Employees Need to Know was written by NEA Healthy Futures, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the National Education Association. 

08/21/2013
Basic page Eligibility & How to Apply
08/20/2013
Resource | Guidance Documents Letter to Households: Notification of Selection for Verification of Eligibility

Letter to Households: Notification of Selection for Verification of Eligibility

06/14/2013
Resource | Policy Memos 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.

04/26/2013
Resource | Technical Assistance Guidance for SFAs: Developing a School Food Safety Program Based on the Process Approach to HACCP Principles

This document serves as USDA guidance for the implementation of HACCP-based food safety programs in schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the School Breakfast Program (SBP).

04/23/2013
Resource | Policy Memos 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.

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