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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 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USDA has rescinded the Biden Administration’s May 2022 Bostock policy update that sought to require federally-funded food and nutrition service programs to redefine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
Resource | Policy Reimbursement for Off-Site Meal Consumption

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide clarification to state agencies and school food authorities operating the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program on reimbursement for meals consumed or served off site.

07/01/2025
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 | Policy Disclosure Requirements for the Child Nutrition Programs

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide a reminder for LEAs regarding the restrictions on disclosure of sensitive information collected through the child nutrition programs.

12/07/2015
Resource | Policy Streamlining At-Risk Meal Participation for School Food Authorities

The purpose of this memorandum is to streamline the requirements for participation of school food authorities in the at-risk afterschool meals component of CACFP.

11/28/2012
Resource | Policy Memos Offering School Food Authorities the Required Value and Variety of USDA Foods, and Efficient and Cost-Effective Distribution

The purpose of this policy memorandum is to provide direction and guidance to SDAs in order to ensure compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements, and to make certain that all SFAs receive their planned assistance level and maximize their use of USDA Foods to meet the nutrition standards in the NSLP.

10/11/2012
Resource | Policy The At-Risk Afterschool Meals Component of the CACFP

This memorandum is follow-up to that guidance and consolidates and updates our previous guidance relating to the at-risk afterschool meals component of CACFP.

02/17/2012
Resource | Policy Guidance on the Food Donation Program in Child Nutrition Programs

The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 amended the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act by adding paragraph (l), the Food Donation Program at the end of Section 9.

02/03/2012
Page updated: October 14, 2021