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Resource | Guidance Documents Area Eligibility in Child Nutrition Programs

The purpose of this memorandum is to revise guidance on the use of school and census data to establish area eligibility in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the At-Risk Afterschool component of CACFP, the Summer Food Service Program, and the Seamless Summer Option of the National School Lunch Program.

12/01/2016
Resource | Technical Assistance Free and Reduced Price School Meals Web-Based Model Application

Featured here is USDA’s Web-Based Prototype Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals, along with accompanying guidance materials and resources.

11/22/2016
Resource | Research and Data | Program Access Examining the Potential to Expand Data Matching in the School Meal Program Eligibility and Verification Processes

This White Paper examines whether any additional means-tested programs might be feasible for use in the direct certification of school-age children participating in school meals or for verification of household income on meal applications.

10/24/2016
Resource | Guidance Documents 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.

08/05/2016
Resource | Final Rule Final Rule: Eliminating Applications Through Community Eligibility as Required by the HHFKA of 2010

This final rule establishes requirements for state agencies, local educational agencies, and schools operating the Community Eligibility Provision, a reimbursement option that allows the service of school meals to all children at no-cost in high poverty schools without collecting household applications.

07/29/2016
Resource | Final Rule Final Rule: Direct Certification of Eligibility for Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk in Schools

 This rule amends the regulations governing the determination of eligibility for free and reduced price school meals under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program or free milk in schools participating in the Special Milk Program.

11/20/2014
Resource Child Nutrition Programs Income Eligibility Guidelines (2013-2014)

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 and free milk for the period from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014.

11/20/2014
Resource | Guidance Documents Eligibility Effective Date for Directly Certified Students

This memorandum addresses inquiries regarding flexibility in determining the effective date of eligibility for students who are directly certified to receive free meals or free milk in the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, and the Special Milk Program.

06/19/2014
Resource | Guidance Documents Determining Eligibility for Two Cent Differential Reimbursement in New Schools

Section 4 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act provides general cash for food assistance payments to states to assist schools in purchasing food. The NSLA provides two different section 4 payment levels for lunches served under the NSLP.

03/28/2014
Resource | Policy New Q&As Related to the Certification of Compliance with Meal Requirements for the NSLP

Attached are revised questions and answers related to the final rule entitled, Certification of Compliance with Meal Requirements for the National School Lunch Program under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

03/11/2014
Page updated: June 02, 2026