Contact Information
USDA Policy memos are listed here by program and fiscal year. For current documents, please see the main USDA Guidance page. For further information on Guidance please call the Health, Safety, and Nutrition Division at (307) 777-7168.
Year 2015 Guidance
- SNP Professional Standards SFA Food Service Director Hiring Policy
- Free & Reduced Price Application Material Policy Memo
- On Line Fees in School Meal Programs
- Area Eligibility for Child Nutrition Programs
- Procurement Written Code of Conduct
- E-Rate Guidance for CEP
- Guidance on CN Labels
- Assessing Nutrition Education Cost to Food Service Account
- Meals for Field Trips
- USDA Foods Availability
- Procuring Local Meat, Poutry, Eggs and Grains
- Professional Standards Q&A
- Review of Special Provision Options 2 & 3 Base Year
Year 2014 Guidance
- Disaster Response
- Area Eligability using Census Data
- Instructions for Determining Eligibility Based on Census Data
- Sharing Free and Reduced Information
- Suspension for Health and Safety Issues
- Time Between Meals
- Financial Management if CACFP 796-2 Rev 4
- Smoothies Offered in the Child Nutrition Programs
- Effective Date of Eligibility Determinations
- State CACFP Policy 02-14 CACFP For-Profit Audit Policy
- State CACFP Policy 01-14 Formal Complaint Procedure
- Fiscal Year 2014 Census Data Release
- Use of School and Census Data
- Available Flexibilities for CACFP At-risk Sponsors and Centers Transitioning to the SFSP
- Flexibility of Whole Grain Rich Pasta Q & A
- Collaboration with Implementing the Smart Snacks
- USDA Guidance on the Domestic Beef Market
- Smart Snacks Standards for Exempt Foods when Pared Together
- Smart Snack Fundraiser’s & Exemptions
- Discretionary elimination of Reduced Price Charges
- Q & A on Certification of Compliance
- Grain Entrees Related to the Smart Snacks in School Standards
- Smart Snacks Fundraiser Exemptions
- Smart Snacks & Culinary Ed Programs
- Food Consumption Outside of the Food Service Area & Whole Grain-Rich Requirements
- USDA Approved Computer Software Companies for Nutrient Analysis
- Disaster Response
- Area Eligability using Census Data
- Instructions for Determining Eligibility Based on Census Data
- Sharing Free and Reduced Information
- New Breakfast Meal Pattern Q & A
- Q & A Nutrition Standards for the National School Lunch & Breakfast
- 6 Cents Final Rule
- Smoothies Offered in the Child Nutrition Programs
- Effective Date of Eligibility Determinations
- Mobile Feeding Options in Summer Feeding Programs
- Fiscal Year 2014 Census Data Release
- Promoting Nutrition in Summer Meals
- Use of School and Census Data
- Available Flexibilities for CACFP At-risk Sponsors and Centers Transitioning to the SFSP
- Expanding Awareness and Access to Summer Meals
- Meal Service Requirements
- Disaster Response
- Area Eligability using Census Data
- Instructions for Determining Eligibility Based on Census Data
- Sharing Free and Reduced Information
- Smoothies Offered in the Child Nutrition Programs
- Effective Date of Eligibility Determinations
- Mobile Feeding Options in Summer Feeding Programs
- Fiscal Year 2014 Census Data Release
- Promoting Nutrition in Summer Meals
- Use of School and Census Data
- Available Flexibilities for CACFP At-risk Sponsors and Centers Transitioning to the SFSP
- Expanding Awareness and Access to Summer Meals
- Meal Service Requirements
- SFSP Questions and Answers 2014
Year 2013 Guidance
- Milk Shortage Dissallowance Policy
- 2% or Whole Milk Disallowance
- Seriously Deficient Process for Sponsors of Unaffiliated Centers
- Health and Safety in the CACFP
- Monitoring of Licensing Requirements in the CACFP
- Dietary Accommodations for Children with Disabilities
- Foster Child Eligibility Clarification
- Eligibility Based on Census
- At Risk Meals
- Federal Small Purchase Threshold Adjustment
- Procurement Geographic Preference Q&As, Part II
- Corn Masa [Dough] for Use in Tortilla Chips, Taco Shells, & Tamales
Competitive Food Proposed Rule Information
- Interim Final Rule: Nutrition Standards for all Food Sold in School Webinar(Youtube Video)
- All Foods Sold in Schools: USDA’s “Smart Snacks in Schools” Proposal
- All Foods Sold in Schools (Powerpoint Presentation)
- Competitive Foods Q & A
- Snack food Release Final
Other NSLP Guidance
- Q & A Related to 6 Cent Certification
- School Breakfast Q and A
- Offer vs. Serve Lunch and Breakfast USDA Memo
- Frozen Fruit Products in the NSLP
- Dietary Accommodations for Children with Disabilities
- Food Safety Program FAQ
- Foster Child Eligibility Clarification
- Salad Bars in the NSLP
- Jewish Facilities Meal Requirements
- New Breakfast Pattern Q & A
- Extending Meat Grains Maximum for SY 13/14 SP26-2013os
- Memo for Q and A about the New Meal Pattern
- Guide on the Q and A about the New Meal Pattern
- Vegetables Food Buying Guide
- National Assessment of Educational Progress Disclosure Memo
- Flexibility Grains and Meat
- Dietary Accommodations for Children with Disabilities
- Foster Child Eligibility Clarification
- Jewish Facilities Meal Requirements
- Eligibility Based on Census
- Summer Feeding Options
- Area Eligibility Based on School Data
- Tax Exempt Status for Private Nonprofit Organizations
- Summer Food Service Program Standard Contract Threshold
- Site Caps in the Summer Food Service Program
Year 2012 & 2011 Guidance
- SP 10
- SP10-2012sr4; Questions & Answers: National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs
- SP40-2012 Attachment A; Prototype Lunch Validation Review Checklist for SY 2012-13
- SP40-2012; Certification of Compliance, New Meal Patterns, Validation Review Checklists
- CACFP01-2012 Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program
- CACFP02-2012 Eligibility Based on Census Data
- CACFP03-2012 Simplifying Application Procedures
- CACFP04-2012 Changes to FNS-44 Report of the CACFP
- CACFP 05-2012 Guidance on the Food Donation Program in CNP
- CACFP 06-2012 Guidance on Income Eligibility Determinations and Duration
- CACFP07-2012 Eligibility Based on Census Data 2012 Data Release
- CACFP13_SFSP11-2012_Revisions
- SP25_CACFP12_SFSP10-2012os
- SP11_CACFP05_SFSP07-2012os
- SP32_CACFP16_SFSP12-2012
- SP32_CACFP16_SFSP-12-2012_Attachment
- CACFP15-2012s
- SP36_CACFP17_SFSP13-2012os
- SP36-2012os, CACFP 17, SFSP 13 Smoothies
- CACFP18_SFSP14-2012
- CACFP18_SFSP14-2012 Tribal Part in CACFP and SFSP
- CACFP19-2012 Adult Care Guidance
- CACFP21-2012 Adult Care Guidance
- SP43_CACFP22_SFSP16-2012 Central Valley Meat
- SP47_CACFP23_SFSP17-2012os Further info on Central Valley Meat
- CACFP24-2012R Family Day Care Carryover
- SP-31-2012 (3rd Revision); 6 Cent Certification Q & A (01/2013)
- SP10-2012 Q and A of the New Meal Pattern (09/2012)
- SP01-2012 Rural Development Community Facilities Program
- SP02 – 2012 Verification and Reporting of Foster Children
- SP03-2012s Direct Certification and Zero Benefit Household
- SP04-2012s School Meal Programs; Companies in Alleged Violation of FSIS Federal Inspection Requirements
- SP05-2012s Funding for Direct Certification Grants
- SP06-2012 Apps for Limited English Households
- SP07-2012s Allocation of Admin Funds for State Costs of New Meal Patterns for the NSLP and SBP
- SP08-2012s CRE Procedures Manual
- SP09-2012s Early Submission of SY 2011-2012 Verification Summary Report Data (FNS-742)
- SP10-2012osr
- SP11_CACFP05_SFSP07-2012os
- SP13-2012os
- SP14-2012os
- SP16-2012os
- SP17-2012os
- SP20-2012os
- SP20-2012osr frozen fruit products
- SP22-2012os
- SP25_CACFP12_SFSP10-2012os
- SP26-2012os
- SP27-2012os
- TA04-2012 FMNV Exemption Memo-S
- SP25_CACFP12_SFSP10-2012os
- SP11_CACFP05_SFSP07-2012os
- SP30-2012os
- SP31-2012
- SP31-2012 revision 2
- SP10-2012sr2
- SP10-2012r2_Calculations
- SP10-2012osr3
- SP32_CACFP16_SFSP12-2012
- SP32_CACFP16_SFSP-12-2012_Attachment
- SP28-2012os
- SP31-2012ros
- SP34-2012
- SP34-2012 Assessment Directions
- SP34-2012 Attestation
- SP34-2012 Specifications
- SP35-2012s
- SP36_CACFP17_SFSP13-2012os
- SP36-2012os, CACFP 17, SFSP 13 Smoothies
- SP37-2012s
- SP37-2012 Section2
- SP38-2012 S
- SP39-2012os inventory of USDA foods
- SP41_SFSP15-2012R Feeding Sites
- SP42-2012os Limited English Guidance
- SP43_CACFP22_SFSP16-2012 Central Valley Meat
- SP44-2012osr reauthorization Q and A
- SP44-2012s 6 Cent Q and A
- SP45-2012os Preventing over-identification of F and R
- SP46-2012os Eligibility Manual
- SP46-2012_Attachment Eligibility Manual
- SP47_CACFP23_SFSP17-2012os Further info on Central Valley Meat
- SFSP 01-2012 Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program
- SFSP 02-2012 Eligibility Based on Census Data
- SFSP03-2012 Additional State Requirements in the SFSP
- SFSP 04-2012 Sponsors Operating in Multiple States in the SFSP
- SFSP 05-2012 Simplifying Application Procedures
- SFSP 06-2012 Serving Additional Foods in the SFSP
- SFSP 07-2012 Guidance on the Food Donation Program in CNP
- SP11_CACFP05_SFSP07-2012os
- SP25_CACFP12_SFSP10-2012os
- CACFP13_SFSP11-2012_Revisions
- SP32_CACFP16_SFSP12-2012
- SP32_CACFP16_SFSP-12-2012_Attachment
- SP36_CACFP17_SFSP13-2012os
- SP36-2012os, CACFP 17, SFSP 13 Smoothies
- CACFP18_SFSP14-2012
- CACFP18_SFSP14-2012 Tribal Part in CACFP and SFSP
- SP41_SFSP15-2012R Feeding Sites
- SP43_CACFP22_SFSP16-2012 Central Valley Meat
- SP47_CACFP23_SFSP17-2012 Further info on Central Valley Meat
- CACFP02 NEW CENSUS REQUIRMENTS
- CACFP-01-2011 Expanded Learning Time
- CACFP-02-2011 Busing on Area Eligibility
- CACFP-03-2011 Elimination of Block Claim Edit Checks
- CACFP-04-2011 Nationwide Expansion of At-Risk Afterschool Meals in the CACFP
- CACFP-05-2011 Area Eligibility for Family Day Care Homes
- CACFP-06-2011 Admin Payments to Family Day Care Home Sponsoring Organizations
- CACFP-07-2011 Permanent Agreements in the SFSP and CACFP
- CACFP-08-2011 Categorical Eligibility of Foster Children
- CACFP-09-2011 Privacy Protection and the Use of Social Security Numbers in Child Nutrition Programs
- CACFP-10-2011 Section 361, Full Use of Federal Funds
- CACFP-11-2011 Guidance on Reallocation of CACFP Audit Funds
- CACFP-12-2011 Reallocation of State Administrative Expense Funds
- CACFP-13-2011 Cooperation with Program Research and Evaluation of CNP
- CACFP-14-2011 Implementation of Section 361, Full Use of Federal Funds (1)
- CACFP-15-2011 Eligibility of Children Evacuated from Japan and Bahrain
- CACFP-16-2011 Varied Timing of Unannounced Reviews in the CACFP
- CACFP-17-2011 Income Info by Tier II Family Day Care Homes
- CACFP-18-2011 Carry Over of Unused CACFP Admin Payments
- CACFP-19-2011 CACFP Program Applications
- CACFP-20-2011 Water Availability in the CACFP
- CACFP-21-2011 Nutrition Requirements for Fluid Milk/Fluid Milk Substitutions
- CACFP-22-2011 WIC Reauthorization 2010 Implementation of Section 361
- CACFP-23-2011 Clarification on the Use of Offer Versus Serve and Family Style Meal Service
- CACFP-24-2011 Automatic Revocation of Tax Exempt Status
- CACFP-25-2011 Translations for Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application
- CACFP-26-2011 Multiple Terminations and Disqualification of CACFP Institutions
- CACFP Q and As for January 1-February 2
- Meal Benefit Income Eligibility Form 01-2011_Packet
- Instructions for Meal Benefit Income Eligibility Form
- CACFP Meal Benefit Income Eligibility Form (Child Care)
- CACFP Meal Benefit Income Eligibility Form Checklist (Child Care)
- CACFP Child Care Letter to Households
- Sharing Information with Medicaid SCHIP
- Childcare Verification
- Homes Tier II Letter
- Homes Tier 1 Letter (1)
- SP-50-2011 Further Clarification for Free and Reduced Forms
- SP-Pricing-Equity-Memo
- SP-01-2011-Revised Rebates, Discounts, and other Applicable Credits in All Cost Reimbursable Contracts
- SP -02-2011 Salad Bars in the NSLP Revised
- SP-03-2011 SA Reports on School Food Safety Inspections
- SP-04-CACFP-01-2011- Revised Expanded Learning Time Programs for NSLP and CACFP
- SP-05 -2011 Further Clarification in Crediting for, and Use of, Donated Foods in Contracts with FSMC’s
- SP-07 -2011 Additional Admin Reviews and State Retention of Improperly-Paid Funds in SY 2010-11
- SP-08 -2011 Teacher Modeling in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
- SP-09-TA-02-2011-OS Clarification of Competitive Foods and Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value
- SP-10-2011 Direct Certification Report List of States Eligible for 2nd Round Planning or Implementation 2010 Direct Certification Grants
- SP-12-2011 NSLP Equipment Assistant Grants Legislative Revision
- SP-13-2011 Letter Method for Direct Certification
- SP-14-2011 Prototype for Conducting Annual On-Site Reviews
- SP-15-2011 Outreach to Households on the Availability of SFSP Meals
- SP-16-2011 State Food Safety Inspection Reporting Requirements
- SP-18-2011 Procurement Geographic Preference Q
- SP-19 Privacy Protection and the Use of Social Security Numbers in CNP
- SP-20-2011 Full Use of Federal Funds
- SP-21 Reallocation of State Administrative Expense Funds
- SP-22-2011 Cooperation with Program Research and Evaluation of Child Nutrition Programs
- SP-23-2011 Guidance and Process for Selection of States for School Year 2011-2012
- SP-24-2011 Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Program Allocation of Funds School Year 2011-12
- SP-25 Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization 2010 Implementation of Sec 361, Full Use of Federal Funds
- SP-26-Eligibility of Children Evacuated from Japan and Bahrain
- SP-27-2011 Direct Certification Planning and Implementation Grants
- SP-28-2011 – Revised Water Availability During the NSLP Meal Service
- SP-29-2011 Nutrition Requirements for Fluid Milk
- SP-30 Child Nutrition Database Release 15
- SP-31-2011 Frequency of Direct Certification Matching Activities Beginning in School Year 2011-2012
- SP-32-2011 Direct Certification Benchmarks and Continuous Improvement Plans
- SP-33-2011 Direct Certification Performance Awards and Use of Funds
- SP-34 Implementation of Section 361, Full Use of Federal Funds, FAQ
- SP-35-2011 Clarification on the Use of Offer Versus Serve and Family Style Meal Service
- SP-36-2011 Restricted Open Sites and Summer Schools
- SP-37-2011 Enhancing the School Food Safety Program
- SP-38-2011 Data Report School Year 08-09
- SP-39-2011Guidance on Paid Lunch Equity and Revenue from Nonprogram Foods
- SP-41-2011 Indirect Cost Guidance
- SP-42-2011 Local School Wellness Policies
- SP-43-2011 Coordinated Review Effort; National Average Daily Attendance
- SP-44 Translations for the Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application and CACFP Meal Benefit Income Eligibility Form
- SP-45-2011 Food Safety Inspections in Service-Only Sites Participating in the School Meals Programs
- SP-46-2011 Waiver of Congregate Feeding Requirement for Outdoor Feeding Sites Experiencing Extreme Heat (2)
- SFSP-01-2011 Effects of Busing on Area Eligibility
- SFSP-02-2011 Eligibility Requirements and Site Limits for Private Nonprofit Organizations in the SFSP
- SFSP-03-2011 Permanent Agreements
- SFSP-04-2011 Outreach to Household on SFSP Meals
- SFSP-05-2011 Categorical Eligibility of Foster Children
- SFSP-06-2011 Privacy Protection and the Use of Social Security Numbers
- SFSP-07-2011 Section 361, Full Use of Federal Funds
- SFSP-08-2011 Cooperation with Program Research and Evaluation of CNP
- SFSP-09-2011 Sectoin 361, Full Use of Federal Funds
- SFSP-10-2011 Eligibility of Children Evacuated from Japan and Bahrain
- SFSP-11-2011 Waiver of Meal Time Restrictions and Unitized Meal Requirements
- SFSP-12-2011 Waiver of Site Monitoring Requirements in the SFSP
- SFSP-13-2011 For-Profit Locations as Meal Sites in the SFSP
- SFSP-14-2011 Existing Flexibilities in SFSP
- SFSP-15-2011 Implementation of Section 361, Full Use of Federal Funds FAQ
- SFSP-16-2011 Restricted Open Sites and Summer Schools
- SFSP-17-2011 Automatic Revocation of Tax Exempt Status
- SFSP-18-2011 Translations for the Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application
- SFSP-19-2011 Waiver of Congregate Feeding Requirement for Outdoor Feeding Sites Experiencing Extreme Heat
- Child Nutrition Reauthorization 2010 Outreach to Households
- Effect of Busing on Area Eligibility SFSP-02-2011
- Foster Children
- For Profit Locations as Meal Sites in the Summer Food Service Program SFSP-13-2011
- Waiver of Site Monitoring Requirements SFSP-12-2011
- Waiver of Meal Time Restrictions and Unitized Meal Requirements SFSP-11-2011