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Resource | Policy Food Distribution Program: Value of Donated Foods From July 1, 2025, Through June 30, 2026

This notice announces the national average value of donated foods or, where applicable, cash in lieu of donated foods, to be provided in school year 2026 (July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026) for each lunch served by schools participating in the National School Lunch Program, and for each lunch and supper served by institutions participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

08/15/2025
Resource | Policy Guidance on Fees for Electronic Payment Services in the School Meal Programs

This memorandum provides revised guidance for school food authorities (SFAs) participating in the school meal programs regarding fees charged when families use electronic payment services to add money to school meal accounts. It also reminds SFAs that they must offer a free and accessible method for all families to add money to school meal accounts.

07/11/2025
Resource | Policy Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA); Interpretation of “Federal Public Benefit”

This notice sets forth the interpretation that the U.S. Department of Agriculture uses for the term “Federal public benefit” as used in Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. In doing so, this notice supersedes any prior interpretation in any notice or other document issued by any USDA agency. This notice also describes and preliminarily identifies the USDA programs that provide “Federal public benefits” within the scope of PRWORA.

07/10/2025
Resource | Policy Interim Final Rule: National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Elimination of the State Ameliorative Action Reporting Requirement for School Meals Eligibility Verification

This rule rescinds an unnecessary reporting requirement for the school meals application verification process.

06/06/2025
Resource | Policy Paid Lunch Equity: Guidance for School Year 2025-2026

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance to state agencies and school food authorities on the paid lunch equity requirements for school year 2025-26.

05/14/2025
Resource | Policy Buy American Accommodation Process for School Year 2025-26

This memorandum provides guidance on the Buy American accommodation process. This memorandum provides the state agency the ability to approve temporary relief for school food authorities that demonstrate they cannot meet the thresholds for non-domestic food purchases for school year 2025-26.

02/20/2025
Resource | Final Rule Final Rule: School Food Safety Program Based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Principles - Approval of Information Collection Request

The final rule entitled School Food Safety Program Based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Principles (HACCP) was published on Dec. 15, 2009, which implemented a legislative provision requiring school food authorities participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the School Breakfast Program (SBP) to develop a school food safety program for the preparation and service of school meals served to children.

02/24/2010
Resource | Policy Memos 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.

01/19/2010
Resource | Policy Memos Single Inventory and Related Commodity Issues—Clarification of Regulatory Changes and Other Guidance

The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify the recent regulatory changes, and to provide interim guidance for taking additional actions in advance of further regulatory amendments. 

05/23/2003
Resource | Policy Memos Determining School and Child Care Commodity Entitlements

This memorandum describes how commodity entitlements are determined and allocated to states for meals served in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program.

02/05/2003
Page updated: October 14, 2021