Skip to main content
Resource | Training and Outreach Apply for Free and Reduced Price School Meals Today

USDA’s school meal programs are important to millions of children every school day. These meals give children the healthy food they need to learn, grow, and thrive. Many families will need to fill out an application to find out if they can get free or reduced price meals.

08/28/2024
Resource | Infographics School Meals: Small Changes, Big Difference

Updated standards are raising the bar for nutrition to help kids grow up healthier.

05/24/2024
Resource | Infographics Top Things To Know About School Meals

School nutrition professionals continue to make school meals the healthiest meals children eat in a day! Nutritious school meals are an investment in our children’s futures, and we all share the common goal of helping them reach their full potential

05/24/2024
Resource | Federal Register Notices Final Rule - Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 DGAs

This rulemaking finalizes long-term school nutrition requirements based on the goals of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, robust stakeholder input, and lessons learned from prior rulemakings.

04/25/2024
Resource | Infographics Final Rule for School Meal Standards

Updated School Meal Standards: working towards a common goal of healthy children and helping them reach their full potential.

04/24/2024
Resource | Infographics Implementation Timeline for Updating the School Meal Standards

School meals will continue to include fruits and vegetables, emphasize whole grains, and give kids the right balance of nutrients for healthy, tasty meals. For the first time, schools will focus on products with less added sugar, especially in school breakfast.

04/24/2024
Resource | Infographics How We Got Here: School Nutrition Standards Final Rule

School nutrition professionals continue to make school meals the healthiest meals children eat in a day! To take school meals to the next level, USDA is updating the school nutrition standards after considering recommendations from the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans and listening to a diverse range of voices with experience in child nutrition and health.

04/24/2024
Resource | Federal Register Notices Final Rule: Child Nutrition Programs - CEP Increasing Options for Schools

This final rule amends the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) regulations by lowering the minimum identified student percentage (ISP) from 40 percent to 25 percent. 

09/26/2023
Resource | Training and Outreach Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs: Training Resources

A variety of trainings are available on the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs. Complete the training modules and view recorded webinars to assist in understanding and using the FBG and all its features.

09/20/2023
Resource | Federal Register Notices Final Rule: Child Nutrition Program Integrity

This action implements statutory requirements and policy improvements to strengthen administrative oversight and operational performance of the Child Nutrition Programs.

08/23/2023
Page updated: October 14, 2021