National School Lunch Program

To assist States, through cash grants and food donations, in providing a nutritious nonprofit lunch service for school children and to encourage the domestic consumption of nutritious agricultural commodities.

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or no-cost lunches to children each school day. Participating school districts and independent schools receive cash subsidies and USDA Foods for each reimbursable meal they serve. In exchange, NSLP institutions must serve lunches that meet Federal meal pattern requirements and offer the lunches at a free or reduced price to eligible children. School food authorities can also be reimbursed for snacks served to children who participate in an approved afterschool program including an educational or enrichment activity.

States, including the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories, as applicable, may apply to administer the National School Lunch Program and work in collaboration with public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions, to provide nutritious lunches for children. All participating schools and institutions must agree to operate a nonprofit food service that is available to all children regardless of race, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), color, national origin, age, or disability.

All children enrolled in schools where this program is operating may receive a lunch daily. Eligibility for free, reduced-price, or paid lunches is determined based on the household income and size. Lunch is available free to children who are determined by the local education agency to have household income levels at or below 130 percent, and at a reduced price rate to children from households with incomes higher than 130 but at or below 185 percent of the Federal poverty line. Lunch is available at the paid rate to children who are not eligible for free and reduced-price meals. The Secretary prescribes the income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price meals by July 1. These guidelines are revised annually according to the Federal Income Poverty Guidelines. Children from households certified to receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and children in Head Start programs are automatically eligible for free meals. Homeless children, children in certain runaway and homeless youth grant programs, migrant children, and foster children are automatically eligible for free meals. All reimbursable meals served at the free, reduced-price, and paid categories get cash assistance.

Federally appropriated National School Lunch Program funds are available to each State agency to reimburse participating public and nonprofit private schools, of high school grades or under, including residential child care institutions, for providing nutritious lunches to children. Funds are also available to reimburse schools for snacks served to children enrolled in eligible after school care programs. The meals offered must meet specific nutrition standards in order to be reimbursable. The rates of reimbursement are adjusted on an annual basis to reflect changes in the Food Away From Home series of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. All participating schools must agree to serve free and reduced price meals to eligible children. Please refer to regulations: 7 CFR Part 210 -- National School Lunch Program, 7 CFR Part 235 -- State Administrative Expense, and 7 CFR Part 245-Free and Reduced Price Eligibility.

Federally appropriated National School Lunch Program funds are available to each State agency to reimburse participating public and nonprofit private schools, of high school grades or under, including residential child care institutions, for providing nutritious lunches to children. Funds are also available to reimburse schools for snacks served to children enrolled in eligible after school care programs. The meals offered must meet specific nutrition standards in order to be reimbursable. The rates of reimbursement are adjusted on an annual basis to reflect changes in the Food Away From Home series of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. All participating schools must agree to serve free and reduced price meals to eligible children. Please refer to regulations: 7 CFR Part 210 -- National School Lunch Program, 7 CFR Part 235 -- State Administrative Expense, and 7 CFR Part 245-Free and Reduced Price Eligibility.

For the period covered by the agreement on a fiscal year basis.

School food authorities must submit a written application to the State agency for any school in which it desires to operate the lunch program. At the local level, households may apply for free or reduced price meals under the lunch program by submitting an application furnished by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), the State agency, or the School Food Authority, as applicable.

All states and territories that participate in NSLP do so via a federal state agreement.

The State agency reviews the written application submitted by a school food authority/school or a residential child care institution and, upon determination of eligibility, makes a written agreement with the school or institution for participation in the lunch program.

Effective upon approval by the State agency or FNS regional office as applicable.

Permanent, amended as necessary.

The State agency is responsible for determining a school's eligibility.