National School Lunch Program
Changes to Recipient Agency Application Submission Window
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is implementing an important update to the application process for new Recipient Agency (RA) applications. Effective immediately, new RA applications will only be accepted once per year, aligning with the submission window for new School Food Authority (SFA) applications.
Bedner Growers, Inc. Recalls Cucumbers Because of Possible Health Risk
The full notice can be found here
Company Announcement
SY 25-26 Program Operations
*This is a consolidated list of information available on the website regarding program operations for school year 2024-2025 Program operations. Recent updates will be noted by the asterisk (*).
New York State Universal Free Meals
New York State Universal Free Meals
The 2025-2026 Executive Budget amended New York State Education Law by adding Section 915a Universal Free School Meals. Beginning in school year 2025-2026, New York State School Food Authorities (SFAs) participating in the federal school lunch and/or breakfast programs are required to provide reimbursable school meals at no cost to all students. The state will reimburse SFAs up to the combined state and federal reimbursement rate for a free meal for each federally reimbursed reduced-price and paid meal claimed.
Using Federal Funds to Purchase Local Foods
The purpose of this memorandum is to remind schools, sponsors, and institutions participating in any U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Program (CNP), including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), Special Milk Program for Children (SMP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and the Seamless Summer Option (SSO), of the many ways they can purchase local foods to serve in Program meals.
Buy American: Provision, Exceptions, and Accommodation
Buy American Requirement
School Food Authorities (SFAs) participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast Program (SBP) must follow the Buy American Provision found in Program regulations 7 CFR 210.21(d) and 7 CFR 220.16(d), respectively.
RFP for FY24 NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant for SFAs
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) Child Nutrition Program Office has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the FY24 National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Equipment Assistance Grant for School Food Authorities (SFAs).
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Outreach
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 established requirements for SFAs conducting outreach for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). SFAs may distribute information through means normally used to communicate with households of enrolled children. Acceptable outreach activities may include developing and distributing printed and electronic materials that provide information on the availability and location of summer meals to families of school children prior to the end of the school year. Here are some outreach strategies for you:
Waiver Request Notification: Annual CEP Deadline
The New York State Education Department has requested the following waiver from the annual Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) deadline from the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services (FNS):
Accepting Medical Statements from Registered Dietitians
The full USDA memo SP 07-2025, CACFP 07-2025 can be found here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/requirement-accept-medical-statements-regist...