The USDA Food and Nutrition Service conducts a variety of studies, evaluations, and related activities that respond to the needs of policymakers and managers and help ensure that nutrition assistance programs achieve their goals effectively. This plan provides short descriptions of projects that are expected to launch in fiscal year (FY) 2025.
It reflects decisions by FNS program and research staff and leadership on the best use of available research funding to meet current information needs that are aligned with agency priorities to improve program efficiency, integrity, and nutrition. FNS developed this plan in consultation with the agencies of the Research, Education, and Economics (REE) Mission Area.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 authorized Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) as a permanent federal food assistance entitlement program beginning in summer 2024. Summer EBT has been tested through evaluations of demonstration projects since 2011. With pending implementation of this new program, this is an appropriate time to reflect on what USDA, FNS research has learned through more than a decade of study.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 authorized a permanent, nationwide Summer EBT Program beginning in 2024. This memorandum provides information to assist Indian Tribal Organizations in preparing to implement Summer EBT.
As required under the Office of Management and Budget's "Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review," FNS reviews its study and evaluation plans to determine whether any projects currently planned or underway meet the Bulletin's standards for "highly influential scientific assessments" or "influential scientific information."
This memorandum provides information to assist Indian Tribal Organizations (ITO) in preparing to implement Summer EBT.
This is a printable SAMPLE of the 2023 Farm to School Census survey intended for school food authorities to review questions in advance of completing their surveys starting October 2023. This sample survey is for the purpose of review only and is not intended to be completed and returned.
I'm New to Farm to School is a place full of resources to help you to get your farm to school program growing.
This checklist is intended to help new Farm to School grantees complete the "new grantee enrollment process." Grantees must complete all the necessary steps of the enrollment process prior in order to begin receiving grant funding.
The Farm to School Census and Comprehensive Review includes the 2019 Farm to School Census; a descriptive review of the USDA Farm to School grant program; a review of published research on farm to school since 2010; and a set of interviews with school food distributors.
The 90-day closeout period is used by grantees to pay outstanding bills, complete the final progress report, and finalize the final SF 425 report. This page summarizes the grant close-out process for Farm to School grantees.