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Basic page Study Series: School Meal Program Operations

We have studied school meal program operations for a long time. You can access published reports that go back to school year 1988-89. Each study in this series focuses on topics that are important to program operations at the time. Sometimes the studies also collect information about other child nutrition programs, like the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program.

03/24/2026
Resource | Research and Data School Meal Program Operations, School Year 2022-23

We regularly collect information about the school meal programs and how they operate from the people who know best – the state agencies that oversee the programs in each state and territory and the school food authorities that manage the programs locally in one or more schools. 

03/24/2026
Resource | Policy Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Targeted School Selection and Outreach Process

This memorandum provides clarification on the statutory requirements for selecting schools and reiterates information from the Sept. 29, 2009 FFVP webinar on the targeting and outreach process that states must conduct in order to select schools.

12/01/2009
Resource | Guidance Documents Geographic Preference for the Procurement of Unprocessed Agricultural Products in the Child Nutrition Programs

The purpose of this memorandum is to update the definition of what is considered “unprocessed” for the purposes of applying the optional geographic preference for procurement in the child nutrition programs.

11/13/2009
Resource | Guidance Documents Applying Geographic Preferences in Procurements for the Child Nutrition Programs

This memorandum updates and revises memoranda SP30-2008: Applying Geographic Preferences in Procurements for the Child Nutrition Programs, SP08-2009: Procurement Questions, and SP28-2009: Procurement Questions, regarding school food authorities’ and other institutions’ application of a geographic preference in procurements for the child nutrition programs.

10/09/2009
Resource | Policy Modifications to the list of USDA-Approved Nutrient Analysis Software

This memorandum is to inform you of a recent change to the list of USDA-approved Nutrient Standard Menu Planning and School Meals Initiative nutrient analysis software programs available to state agencies, school food authorities and local schools to meet SMI requirements.

08/10/2009
Resource | Policy Adherence to School Selection Criteria and Outreach to Potentially Eligible Schools

This memorandum provides a reminder of the statutory requirements for selecting schools, especially the requirement that selected FFVP schools meet the highest free and reduced price need level as required in the Act, and also provides clarification on requirements for state outreach to schools.

03/18/2009
Resource | Guidance Documents Administrative Review and Training Grant Amendment

We have had a number of requests for clarification regarding the use of $3,500 per review for the Fiscal Year 2009 ART grant award under Method 1. The purpose of this memorandum is to amend our cover letter and request for application for the FY 2009 ART grant, Method 1.

03/03/2009
Page updated: June 02, 2026