The NSLA specifies that persons directly connected with the administration or enforcement of certain programs or activities are permitted to have access to children's eligibility information. The following chart shows the circumstances for disclosing eligibility information. If you have concerns or questions about disclosing children's eligibility information, refer to the USDA Eligibility Manual for School Meals or contact your Child Nutrition Program representative for further guidance. Prototype parent consent forms are included in the Attachments tab.
| Recipient of Information | What May be Disclosed | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Programs under the National School Lunch Act or Child Nutrition Act | All Eligibility information | Prior notice and consent not required |
| Federal/State or local means tested nutrition programs with eligibility standards comparable to the NSLP | Eligibility status only | Prior notice and consent not required |
| Federal education programs | Eligibility status only | Prior notice and consent not required |
| State education programs administered by a State agency or local education agency | Eligibility status only | Prior notice and consent not required |
| Local education programs | NO eligibility information, unless parental consent is obtained | Parental consent |
| Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP), administered by a State or local agency authorized under titles XIX or XXI of the Social Security Act to identify and enroll eligible children | All Eligibility information unless parents elect not to have information disclosed | Must give prior notice to parents and opportunity for parents to decline to have their information Disclosed |
| State health programs other than Medicaid/SCHIP, administered by a State agency or local education agency | Eligibility status only | Prior consent not required |
| Federal health programs other than Medicaid/SCHIP | NO eligibility information, unless parental consent is obtained | Parental Consent |
| Local health program | NO eligibility information, unless parental consent is obtained | Parental Consent |
| Comptroller General of the United States for purposes of audit and examination | All eligibility information | Prior notice and consent not required |
| Federal, State, or local law enforcement of officials investigating alleged violations of any of the programs under NSLA and CAN or investigating violations of any of the programs that are authorized to have access to names and eligibility status | All eligibility information | Prior notice and consent not required |
Last updated
June 5, 2019
