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Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2005-0036 Eligibility for Severe Need Rates for the School Breakfast Program

Tthe School Breakfast Program regulations outlines criteria for schools to qualify for severe need reimbursement. Included in these criteria is the requirement that 40 percent or more of the lunches served to students at that school in the second preceding school year were served free or at a reduced price. This criterion is intended to ensure that the severe need reimbursement rate is provided to schools which have already demonstrated that a high percentage of meals, defined as 40 percent or more of lunches, are being served to needy students.

SP 23-2005
09/22/2005
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2016-0042 Ensuring Access to Free and Reduced Price School Meals for Low-Income Students

This guidance provides steps state agencies and school administrators can take to improve access to school meal programs through the application, certification, and verification processes so that all eligible children in NSLP and SBP schools have the opportunity to participate in the school meal programs.

SP43-2016
08/10/2016
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2016-0051 Ensuring Year-long Eligibility in the School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs

The purpose of this memorandum is to strongly encourage local educational agencies to accept eligibility determinations from a transferring student’s former LEA to minimize disruptions in meal benefits for low-income students and avoid student debt resulting from unpaid meal charges.

SP51-2016
08/05/2016
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2013-0055 Extending Flexibility for RCCIs in the NSLP

On July 16, 2012, FNS issued memorandum SP 38-2012, which allowed Residential Child Care Institutions, with state agency approval, to serve the National School Lunch Program meal pattern in effect for the highest age/grade group served to all residential students.

SP48-2013
06/26/2013
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2013-0009 Family Friendly Applications

FNS has developed a new version of the prototype Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application package. This “family friendly” application package has been simplified to include only the information that families need when first applying for free or reduced price meals in the school meals programs.

SP21-2013
01/29/2013
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2014-0073 Farm to School and School Garden Expenses

Recently, we have received several questions about the use of funds from the nonprofit school food service account to cover expenditures related to farm to school activities and school gardens. The questions and answers below address specific scenarios that school food authorities may be dealing with when considering the allowability of such costs.

SP06-2015
11/12/2014
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2008-0054 Final Fluid Milk Substitution Rule

The Food and Nutrition Service issued the final rule Fluid Milk Substitutions in the School Nutrition Program  on Sept. 12, 2008, to implement a provision of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004.

SP02-2009
10/16/2008
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2008-0007 Final Rule, Procurement Requirements for the National School Lunch, School Breakfast and Special Milk Programs

The purpose of this memorandum is to highlight the key provisions of the final rule and emphasize the responsibilities state agencies have in ensuring compliance with these provisions and with contract enforcement and oversight.

SP09-2008
01/28/2008
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2015-0065 Fiscal Year Reporting Timeline and Reporting Table

This memorandum shares newly developed resources intended to promote reporting efficiency. The attached “Reporting Timeline” and “Reporting Table” were developed to assist with tracking the diverse reports required to be submitted by state agencies to the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) throughout the fiscal year.

SP21-2016
12/28/2015
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2007-0014 Fluid Milk and Other Food Components/Menu Items in Reimbursable Lunches

It has come to our attention that there may be some confusion concerning fluid milk, and how it is offered in reimbursable lunches. Under all menu planning approaches, fluid milk is a separate food component/menu item.

SP06-2007
03/21/2007
Page updated: October 14, 2021