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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: 
Frances N. O'Donnell, Coordinator
Date: 
Friday, May 11, 2012
Subject: 
Special Milk Program 2012-2013 School Year

Effective for the 2012-2013 school year, schools participating in the Special Milk Program should only be providing fat-free (skim) milk or low-fat (one percent) milk to students.  Neither, whole milk, nor two percent milk, should be available.  This change in policy by USDA is to ensure that the milk offerings in the Special Milk Program are consistent with those of the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program required by the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010.  The goal is to reduce childhood obesity.  

If your school chooses to offer flavored milk, the USDA recommends it be flavored fat-free milk.

Schools participating in the Special Milk Program should notify their dairies immediately of these changes in order to be in compliance for 2012-2013.

Attached are Questions and Answers regarding the Special Milk Program.  Any questions on this policy should be directed to a Child Nutrition Representative at 518-473-8781.

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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