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THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

Office of P-20 Education Policy
Child Nutrition Program Administration
89 Washington Avenue, Room 375 EBA, Albany, NY 12234
Phone: (518) 473-8781 Fax: (518) 473-0018
To: 
School Food Service Directors/Managers
From: 
Child Nutrition Program Administration
Date: 
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Subject: 
2025-2026 Provision 2 Base Year: Income Eligibility Guidelines, Application, and Related Information

This memorandum announces the Provision 2 base year income eligibility guidelines for the 2025-2026 school year and provides each School Food Authority (SFA) with the forms and guidance needed to process applications for free and reduced-price meals.

USDA Eligibility Manual for School Meals

The USDA Eligibility Manual for School Meals provides comprehensive information on the federal requirements, policies, and procedures for establishing eligibility in the Child Nutrition Programs. This is intended to help School Food Authorities (SFAs) accurately determine, certify, and verify children’s eligibility for free and reduced-price school meals and free milk.

2025-2026 School Year Income Eligibility Guidelines

SFAs must use the 2025-2026 School Year Income Eligibility Guidelines to approve free and reduced-price income applications for school meals. These guidelines are family-size income levels prescribed annually by the Secretary of Agriculture for determining eligibility for free and reduced-price meals and free milk.

NYSED Provision 2 Base Year Eligibility Prototype Documents

Click here for a PDF printer-friendly version of all documents.

Free and Reduced Price Income Application and Application Fact Sheet (English)

Word  |  PDF

Other Language Applications

Public Announcement

Word  |  PDF

Parent Letter

Word  |  PDF

Notification Letter for School Meals

Word  |  PDF

Notification Letter for Directly Certified Students

Word  |  PDF

Meal Services to Children with Disabilities

Word  |  PDF

Consent to Release Eligibility Information

Word  |  PDF

Language Translations

SFAs must take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to their programs and activities by persons with limited English proficiency. USDA features foreign language translations of the Prototype Application for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals as a template to assist SFAs in serving households where English is not spoken as a primary language.

In addition to the application form, each USDA translated packet also includes application instructions and a parent letter/FAQ. USDA also provides a packet of communications documents to be used by SFAs for information sharing requests, income verification, and benefit issuance notices to households.

The translated documents can be found here: Translated Applications | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov).

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

  1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
  2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
  3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

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