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Resource | Policy Requirement to Accept Medical Statements from Registered Dietitians for Schools and Child and Adult Care Institutions and Facilities

On April 25, 2024, FNS published the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans that included minor updates to CACFP and SFSP to better align child nutrition program requirements. These updates represent continued progress toward supporting the nutritional quality of school meals, strengthening the CNPs, and advancing USDA’s commitment to nutrition security. 

12/30/2024
Resource | Policy FDPIR - Applying the New Shelter/Utility Deduction and Calculating Net Monthly Income

This memorandum provides FDPIR administering agencies with guidance on how to apply the new shelter/utility deduction and outlines changes in the process to calculate a household’s net monthly income to account for the new shelter/utility deduction.

12/17/2024
Resource | Policy FDPIR Guidance on Changes to Household Eligibility

This memorandum provides FDPIR administering agencies with guidance on changes to household eligibility requirements.

12/17/2024
Resource | Policy FDPIR – Interim Administrative Waiver Authority Guidance

This memorandum provides interim guidance on new FDPIR regulatory waiver authority that became effective on Oct. 31, 2024.

12/10/2024
Resource | Policy NSLP Equipment Assistance Grants: Installation Expenditures

This memorandum expands on guidance previously provided in SP 18-2009 Equipment Assistance Grants for School Food Authorities, dated March 9, 2009, and on SP 20-2009 Equipment Assistance Grants for School Food Authorities - Questions and Answers, dated March 20, 2009.

12/09/2024
Resource | Policy Guidance for Accepting Processed Product Documentation for Meal Pattern Requirements

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide state agencies and program operators of the child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program, with additional information and clarification on the state agency monitoring process regarding the: 1) Child nutrition label, 2) watermarked CN label, and 3) manufacturer’s Product Formulation Statement.

11/07/2024
Resource | Policy Improving Access and Parity Final Rule: FDPIR Implementation Memorandum

Through this memorandum, FNS is providing FDPIR administering agencies with initial implementation guidance and implementation dates for the provisions of the Improving Access and Parity Final Rule.

11/06/2024
Resource | Policy Substituting Vegetables for Grains in American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Tribal Communities

On April 25, 2024, FNS published the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. While most provisions in the 2024 final rule focus on the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, this rule also includes limited updates to the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program to better align child nutrition programs requirements. These updates represent continued progress toward supporting the nutritional quality of meals offered through the CNPs and meeting cultural food preferences of program participants. 

10/30/2024
Resource | Policy Substitution of Vegetables for Fruit Flexibility in the School Breakfast Program: Q&As for Program Operators

On April 25, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The 2024 final rule included an optional provision that continues to allow the substitution of vegetables for fruits at breakfast and provides schools with greater menu planning flexibility at breakfast as compared to the previous regulations. This memorandum provides updated guidance on the substitution of vegetables for fruits in the School Breakfast Program.

10/07/2024
Resource | Policy Fluid Milk Requirements for School Meals

On April 25, 2024, FNS published the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The rule finalized practical, science-based, long-term school nutrition requirements based on the goals of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, extensive partner input, and lessons learned from prior rulemakings. This memorandum updates and clarifies current guidance for fluid milk requirements in school meal programs following publication of the 2024 final rule.
 

10/07/2024
Page updated: October 14, 2021