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Resource | Training and Outreach Pledge for Healthier School Meals

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is asking states and food service companies, with the support of school food authorities, to pledge to make school meals and snack programs healthier.

07/14/2026
Resource | Technical Assistance Product Formulation Statement Guidance and Templates for Food Manufacturers/Industry

Product Formulation Statement templates and samples for demonstrating how a food product may contribute to the meal pattern requirements in USDA child nutrition programs.

06/09/2026
Resource | Guidance Documents Expanding Fluid Milk Options in Child Nutrition Programs

This memorandum provides information and guidance related to implementing the updated fluid milk options available to operators of the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Food Program, and the Special Milk Program for Children.

06/04/2026
Resource | Federal Register Notices Expanding Fluid Milk Options in Child Nutrition Programs

This final rule with comment period expands fluid milk options by allowing schools and child and adult care providers participating in child nutrition programs to offer whole and reduced-fat milk to participants two years and older.

05/08/2026
Resource | Guidance Documents School Meal Programs: Reviewing Product-Based Added Sugars Limits for Breakfast Cereals, Flavored Milk, and Yogurt

Effective July 1, 2025 (school year 2025-26), school nutrition standards include a limit on the amount of added sugars allowed in breakfast cereals, flavored milk, and yogurt served in the NSLP and SBP, and for flavored milk sold as competitive foods known as Smart Snacks in School.

04/28/2026
Resource | Federal Register Notices Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines (2026 - 2027)

This notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced-price meals, free milk, and Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer benefits for the period from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

04/09/2026
Resource | Policy Community Eligibility Provision: Election Deadline and Annual Notification and Publication Requirements

This memorandum is a reminder to state agencies and local educational agencies that the statutory deadline to elect the Community Eligibility Provision for the following school year is June 30. This memorandum also provides a reminder of the annual CEP notification and publication requirements.

03/13/2026
Resource | Guidance Documents Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 – Implementation Requirements for the National School Lunch Program

President Donald J. Trump signed into law the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025. This memorandum and the attachment provide guidance on implementation of the updated fluid milk requirements for school lunch as required by the new law.

01/14/2026
Resource | Policy Interim Final Rule: NSLP and SBP - Elimination of the State Ameliorative Action Reporting Requirement for School Meals Eligibility Verification

Due to a technical problem with the docket that prevented comments from being accepted during part of the initial comment period, we are reopening the comment period for the interim final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on June 6, 2025. The rule rescinds an unnecessary reporting requirement for the school meals application verification process.

08/08/2025
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
Page updated: June 02, 2026