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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USDA has rescinded the Biden Administration’s May 2022 Bostock policy update that sought to require federally-funded food and nutrition service programs to redefine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 | Guidance Documents Small Entity Compliance Guide

This guide informs small entities participating in child nutrition programs about the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and how to comply with it. This guide does not include any new requirements; it just summarizes existing guidance related to the final rule.

06/27/2024
Resource | Policy Buy American Provisions Related to the Final Rule - CNP Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-25 DGAs

On April 25, 2024, FNS published the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Among other provisions, this rule finalizes regulations that strengthen the School Meal Programs’ Buy American provision. The Buy American Exceptions Tracking Standard Form is an optional template that school food authorities can use to organize files and document the use of exceptions to purchase non-domestic foods under the Buy American provision. 

06/05/2024
Resource | Policy WIC FMNP and SFMNP FY 2022 Guidance Package

This guidance provides resources that state agencies may use when considering next steps and set forth instructions for submitting state plan amendments that involve operational changes such as electronic solution proposals and/or WIC FMNP waiver requests.

04/11/2024
Resource | Guidance Documents Paid Lunch Equity: Guidance for SY 2024-25

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance to state agencies and school food authorities on the paid lunch equity requirements for SY 2024-25. This memorandum explains the PLE exemption provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024. This memorandum also provides guidance for SFAs that do not qualify for the exemption.

03/20/2024
Resource | Policy Rural Designations in the Summer Meal Programs - Revised

The purpose of this memorandum is to revise guidance on rural designations in the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program’s Seamless Summer Option (SSO). The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 authorized a permanent non-congregate meal service option through the SFSP and SSO for children who live in rural communities with no congregate meal service. This memorandum supersedes SFSP policy memorandum SFSP 17-2015, Rural Designations in the Summer Food Service Program – Revised, April 21, 2017.

03/06/2023
Resource | Policy Memos FY 2020 Reallocation of SAE Funds in Child Nutrition Programs

This memorandum provides the information needed to conduct the FY 2020 reallocation of SAE funds.

04/01/2020
Resource | Policy Policy Cancellation Memorandum

This cancellation memo explains that FNS is cancelling Policy Memoranda FD-010, FD-027, FD-028, FD-029, FD-032, FD-053, FD-055, FD-071, FD-073, FD-074, FD-083, FD-086, FD-087, FD-090, FD-105, and FD-115. The guidance provided by these memoranda are either outdated, obsolete, or otherwise captured in more current memoranda.

12/27/2019
Resource | Policy Memos Revised SY16-17 SFA-3 Administrative Review Form for FNS-640 Reporting

This memorandum provides the SY 2016-2017 SFA-3 with revised instructions that provide additional information and clarifications to the previously released form’s instructions. The revised instructions will assist with the completion of the FNS-640 report that is due on March 1, 2018.

09/12/2017
Resource | Policy Memos 2017 Edition of Questions and Answers for the National School Lunch Program’s Seamless Summer Option

This memorandum consolidates the recent policy changes in the NSLP,  SBP, and SFSP that affect the implementation of the Seamless Summer Option. This memorandum and its attachment supersede SP 37-2015, 2015 Edition of Questions and Answers for the National School Lunch Program’s Seamless Summer Option, May 22, 2015.

12/01/2016
Page updated: October 14, 2021