This memorandum is a reminder to state agencies and local educational agencies that the statutory deadline to elect the Community Eligibility Provision for the following school year is June 30. This memorandum also provides a reminder of the annual CEP notification and publication requirements.
This memorandum transmits the 2026 income guidelines for state agencies and tribes in determining the eligibility of individuals applying to participate in CSFP.
We are issuing this memorandum to provide CSFP state agencies, including ITOs, with guidance on implementing 7 CFR § 247.14(a), which requires local agencies, as appropriate, to make referrals and provide CSFP applicants with written information on specific public assistance programs.
Due to a technical problem with the docket that prevented comments from being accepted during part of the initial comment period, we are reopening the comment period for the interim final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on June 6, 2025. The rule rescinds an unnecessary reporting requirement for the school meals application verification process.
This notice sets forth the interpretation that the U.S. Department of Agriculture uses for the term “Federal public benefit” as used in Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. In doing so, this notice supersedes any prior interpretation in any notice or other document issued by any USDA agency. This notice also describes and preliminarily identifies the USDA programs that provide “Federal public benefits” within the scope of PRWORA.
This notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals, free milk, and Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer benefits for the period from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
This page lists the income guidelines for state agencies and ITOs to use in determining the eligibility of individuals applying to participate in CSFP. These guidelines should be used with CSFP regulations, which establish household income limits.
This memorandum transmits the 2025 income guidelines for state agencies and tribes in determining the eligibility of individuals applying to participate in CSFP.
This memorandum provides CSFP state agencies, including ITOs, with guidance on the requirements for conferring CSFP income eligibility through participation in specific federal programs or state programs with income eligibility guidelines at or below the state agency’s CSFP threshold.
The Community Eligibility Provision is a National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program meal service option that allows schools and school districts located in high poverty areas to offer breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students.