National School Lunch Program

The National School Lunch Program is a federally funded program which assists schools and other agencies in providing nutritious lunches to children at reasonable prices. In addition to financial assistance, the program provides donated commodity foods to help reduce lunch program costs. The United States Department of Agriculture is responsible for overseeing the program nationally. In Iowa, the program is administered by the Iowa Department of Education, Bureau of Nutrition Programs and School Transportation. For more information, connect to the USDA site. What are the benefits of participating in the program?

For children, the National School Lunch Program provides a nutritious meal that contains 1/3 of the Recommended Dietary Allowance of necessary nutrients. For parents, the program offers a convenient method of providing a nutritionally balanced lunch at the lowest possible price. For schools, the program enhances children's learning abilities by contributing to their physical and mental well being. Studies have shown that children whose nutritional needs are met have fewer attendance and discipline problems and are more attentive in class.

What type of lunch must be offered?

The USDA School Meals Initiative for Healthy Children emphasizes our national health responsibility to provide healthy school meals that are consistent with the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA), the calorie goals and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

What is involved in daily operations of the National School Lunch Program?

The lunch program must be open to all enrolled children. Free or reduced price meals must be provided to those children who qualify for such benefits according to specified household size and income standards. Agency staff must verify income on a percentage of those receiving free or reduced price lunches to confirm their eligibility. Records must be kept to document that the lunch program follows all federal and state rules and regulations.

What Types of Agencies May Participate?

Public and private nonprofit schools are eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program. Also eligible are public and private nonprofit licensed residential child care institutions (e.g., group homes, juvenile halls).

Reimbursement

Agencies that participate in the program are reimbursed from two sources: the United States Department of Agriculture and the State of Iowa. State reimbursement is paid for all meals until allocated funds are depleted. Federal reimbursement is paid for all meals served and claimed according to regulations. The National School Lunch Program is operated on a reimbursement basis, with agencies reimbursed on the number of meals served by eligibility type.

Resources for Food Service Staff

Sample inventory records and staffing guidelines.

Lunch Form for SMI Records (2006-06-14)

Inventory Records (2006-06-14)

Sample Staffing Guidelines for On-Site Production (2007-03-13)

Menu Production Work Sheets

Sample Traditional and Enhanced Food Production Records for lunch, breakfast, food bar and transport. USDA requires daily food production records.

Enhanced Food Production Records

Traditional Food Production Records

Iowa Eligibility Application

Verification Information
USDA requires School Food Authorities(SFAs) participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program to verify 3% of the households that have applied for free or reduced price meal benefits.

Letter to Households USDA Verification Selection for Letters to Households (Prototype III)

Letter of Verification Results USDA Verification Results Notification Ltr to Households(Prototype VI)

Reauthorization 2004
Public Law 108-265, the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 made a number of changes to the Child Nutrition programs: National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program, Child and Adult Care Food Care Program, and Summer Food Service Program. For detailed information on reauthorization visit USDA's web site at: www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/

hawk-i Information

hawk-i is the State's medical insurance program for children. Public LEAs are required to report to hawk-i and Medicaid information about households who request the information. Non Public LEAs are encouraged to report.

hawk-i Memo

hawk-i Contract

Outreach poster for hawk-i. Please display this poster where parents can see it.

Hawk-I Outreach Poster

Homeless Children in the School Nutrition Program

Students that are identified as homeless by the Homeless Liaison are eligible for free meals.

Homeless children in SNP (2006-06-14)

Memo to Homeless Liaison

Forms
USDA requires accurate daily meal counts. The Edit Record and the Self-Monitoring Form for On-site reviews are tools to ensure accurate reporting.

Edit Record for Meal Counts Individual Bldg (2006-06-14)

Self Monitoring Form for Onsite Reviews (2006-06-14)

Memoranda
Memorandums from USDA on a variety of areas.

FY05 Meal Price Survey Results (2006-06-14)

Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value (2006-06-14)

2009 Exemptions Under the Competitive Food Services Regulations (TA 01-2009)

Handling Lost, Stolen and Misused Meal Tickets (2006-06-14)

Lost and Stolen Ticket and Card Policy (2006-06-14)

Meal Substitutions for Medical or Other (2006-06-14)

Local Wellness Policy
The Child Nutrition Program Reauthorization requires the creation of a Local Wellness Policy to be in place for all schools by June 2006. Below is a document that provides basic information about the Local Wellness Policy regulation. It provides additional websites, for further information and resources.

Local Wellness Policy (2006-06-12)

Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCI)

The term ‘‘residential child care institutions’’ includes, but is not limited to: homes for the mentally, emotionally or physically impaired, and unmarried mothers and their infants; group homes; halfway houses; orphanages; temporary shelters for abused children and for runaway children; long-term care facilities for chronically ill children; and juvenile detention centers. A long-term care facility is a hospital, skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility, or distinct part thereof, which is intended for the care of children confined for 30 days or more.

This sample monthly Meal Participation Sheet can be used for the meal counting system for breakfast and lunch. Meal counting must be done at the point of service and include each child's name

RCCI Meal Participation

Sample food production record for a variety of menus and grade levels. USDA requires daily food production records.

RCCI Food Production Record

NSLP Iowa Eligibility Application/Verification FAQs

Frequently asked questions on determining eligibility of households applying for free and reduced price meals.

NSLP Links

NSLP Contacts