FNS Documents & Resources

A webinar for state agencies and local program operators sharing proactive strategies to prevent and manage unpaid meal charges as schools return to standard counting and claiming in SY 2022-23.

This memorandum provides information on the CSFP supplemental allocation of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 supplemental administrative funding.

The fiscal year 2021 TEFAP funding memorandum provides guidance on full-year FY 2021 TEFAP food and administrative funding allocations and requests the amount of food funding that states want to convert to administrative funding in FY 2021. The memo also includes information about the amended reallocation process for FY 2020 administrative funds and guidance on the prioritization of use of administrative funds from different sources.

This memorandum includes questions and answers on flexibilities available to Indian Tribal Organizations and state agencies on the operations of FDPIR. These flexibilities may assist ITOs and state agencies that administer FDPIR in continuing to provide food to people in need during the novel COVID-19 public health emergency.

The goal of the school meal programs is to provide nutritious meals to children during the school day. Children may receive breakfast and lunch at no cost to them if they are categorically eligible for free meals or if they qualify for free meals based on federal poverty guidelines. Sometimes, however, children who do not qualify based on these standards would like a breakfast or lunch, but do not have money in their account or in-hand to cover the cost of the meal at the time of the meal service.

This is the 2017 Edition of Overcoming the Unpaid Meal Challenge: Proven Strategies from Our Nation’s Schools. This best practice guide is designed to support state agencies and local program operators in their efforts to find workable solutions to the challenge of unpaid meal charges.

No later than July 1, 2017, all school food authorities (SFAs) operating National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Program must have a written policy in place to address situations where children participating at the reduced price or paid rate do not have money to cover the cost of a meal at the time of the meal service. SFAs have discretion in developing the specifics of their policies, and FNS expects charge policies will vary based on local circumstances and available resources. This webinar provides an overview of the local charge policy requirement and shares best practices for successful policy development.

This question and answer memorandum is designed to provide an overview of policies related to unpaid meal charges and to address common questions we have received from state agencies, school food authorities, and local program operators.

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.