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Resource | Policy National School Lunch, Special Milk, and School Breakfast Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rate SY 2026-27

This notice announces the annual adjustments to the national average payments, the amount of money the federal government provides states for lunches, afterschool snacks, and breakfasts served to children participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs; to the maximum reimbursement rates, the maximum per lunch rate from federal funds that a state can provide a school food authority for lunches served to children participating in the National School Lunch Program; and to the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint of milk served to non-needy children in a school or institution that participates in the Special Milk Program for Children. 

07/16/2026
Resource | Federal Register Notices Food Distribution Program: Value of Donated Foods From July 1, 2026 Through June 30, 2027

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 2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027) 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.

07/14/2026
Resource | Guidance Documents Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program: Allocation of Funds for FY 2027

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide funding allocation amounts for all state agencies for fiscal year (FY) 2027, information on funding requirements and deadlines, and reminders of important program requirements.

07/13/2026
Grant Fiscal Year 2026 National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grants

We are pleased to announce the availability of $20 million to provide grants on a competitive basis to state agencies for the National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grants.

 

04/16/2026
Resource | Policy Comment Request: State Administrative Expense Funds

This is a reinstatement, with change, of a previously approved collection for which approval has expired.

03/16/2026
Resource | Policy Modifying the FNS Instruction 113-1: Civil Rights Compliance and Enforcement - Nutrition Programs and Activities

This memorandum seeks to ensure that current Food and Nutrition Service guidance pertaining to federal civil rights and nondiscrimination obligations remains aligned with applicable laws, regulations, executive orders and directives relevant to the agency’s 16 nutrition assistance programs.

03/03/2026
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 National School Lunch, Special Milk, and School Breakfast Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates SY 2025-26

This notice announces the annual adjustments to the national average payments, the amount of money the federal government provides states for lunches, afterschool snacks, and breakfasts served to children participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs; to the maximum reimbursement rates, the maximum per lunch rate from federal funds that a state can provide a school food authority for lunches served to children participating in the National School Lunch Program; and to the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint of milk served to non-needy children in a school or institution that participates in the Special Milk Program for Children.

07/24/2025
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 Guidance on the Interpretation of Discrimination Based on “Sex” in USDA Child Nutrition Programs

USDA has rescinded the Biden Administration’s May 2022 Bostock policy update that sought to require federally-funded food and nutrition service programs to redefine discrimination by reason of “sex” under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 as not based on just male or female, but also “gender identity.” Today’s guidance eliminates the illegal threats issued under the Biden Administration that mandated compliance with ever-evolving concepts of gender ideology as a condition for participation in USDA school programs.

07/07/2025
Page updated: June 02, 2026