The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program in public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.
If you have questions regarding the National School Lunch Program, please contact a member of the Child Nutrition staff.
NSLP Food Service staff are welcome to join our List Serve.
Administrative and Procurement Reviews
What Application and Accountability system can I use? CEP, Special Provision II or Traditional
NSLP During the Summer
What Summer Meals Program to Operate - SFSP, NSLP, SSO
- CEP & Special Provisions
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- Special Provisions - four alternative provisions to the normal requirements for annual determinations of eligibility for free and reduced price school meals and daily meal counts.
- Community Eligibility Program (CEP) - this provision gives districts and/or schools the ability to not collect free & reduced meal applications
Comparing CEP, Special Provision II and Traditional NSLP Reimbursement (xlsx)
Comparing CEP, Special Provision II and Traditional NSLP Requirements (pdf)
- Daily Operations Forms
- Equipment Assistance
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- Equipment Assistance USDA grant to help schools purchase needed kitchen equipment.
- Food Safety
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- DHHS/CDC School inspection policy SY 2023
- Food Temp Chart
- Guidelines for Food Service Establishments to Safely Reopen after a Power Outage
- Maine Food Code
- Produce Safety Training Videos Link to USDA
- School Food and Produce Safety Guides Link to USDA
- Refrigeration and Thermometer Calibration Logs
- Share Table Guidance - Maine CDC Health Inspection Program 5-24-2019
- Share Tables SP 41-2016 USDA Memo on use of Share Tables
- Standard Operating Procedures Link to ICN
- Standard Operating Resources Link to ICN
ServSafe Class Information
- Guidance
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- Federal NSLP Policies link to USDA
- Federal NSLP Regulations link to USDA
- Nutrition Standards for School Meals link to USDA
- Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act link to USDA; 2010 act to reform child nutrition programs
- Reimbursement Rates for USDA's Child Nutrition Programs
- Revised Q&A for Program Operators on the Meal Pattern - effective July 1, 2022
- Summary Chart of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act
- Local Wellness Policy
- Management Forms
- Menu Planning Tools
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- Calculating Weekly Minimums for Grains/Meat
- Exhibit A: Grain Requirements for Child Nutrition Programs
- Food Buying Guide link to USDA; food purchasing and crediting guidance.
- USDA Foods Product Information Sheets link to USDA
- Healthy Kansas Meal Component Tool First tab includes instructions
- USDA Foods Crediting Guide
- Meal Component Calculator ME Child Nutrition Component Calculator. Enter serving sizes to determine in planned Menu is compliant
- Meal Pattern
- Menu Planning Tool provided by the USDA
- NSLP Quick Guide
- Offer versus Serve Manual. link to USDA
- Serving School Meals to Preschoolers
- USDA Standardized Recipes link to USDA
- USDA Whole Grain Resource
- Vegetable Subgroup Chart Updated
Tip Sheets
Fruit Tip Sheet
Meat/Meat Alternate Tip Sheet
Milk Tip Sheet
Vegetable Tip Sheet - On-Site Monitoring Forms
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- ASSP On-site Monitoring Form To be completed twice a year. At the beginning and mid-year
- FFVP On-Site Monitoring Form
- SNP On-site Monitoring Form
- Production Records
- Program Planning, Operations and Resources
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- Off Site Meal Notice
- FY24 Spring Checklist
- Annual Requirements Checklist
- OVS Reimbursable Lunch Signage
- OVS Lunch Tip Sheet
- Teacher Meal Participation Promotion
- Team Nutrition My Plate link to USDA; resources educators can use to integrate My Plate lessons into core educational subjects, such as Math, English Language Arts, and Science
- Team Nutrition Resource Library link to USDA; resources for schools and child care facilities participating in the federal child nutrition programs
- The Institute for Child Nutrition
- Tools for Schools link to USDA; topic-specific policy and resource materials to assist schools in meeting the new nutrition standards
- Healthier School Day Students are getting healthier and more nutritious food in school.
- Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act, improvements are being made across the country to transform school food and to promote better nutrition and reduce obesity. Use this link to access the School Day Just got Healthier Campaign.
- Special Milk Program Provides milk to children in schools and nonprofit summer camps who do not participate in other federal meal service programs. The program provides reimbursement for the milk they serve to children.
- Smart Snacks in Schools
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- A Guide to Smart Snacks in Schools
- Smart Snacks Calculator
- Smart Snacks in Schools Flowchart
- Smart Snacks in Schools link to USDA; tools and resources are available to help schools identify food items that meet Smart Snacks criteria
- Special Dietary Needs
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- Accommodating Children with Special Dietary Needs in School Nutrition Programs
- Dietary Accommodations Quick Guide
- Medical Statement
- Milk Substitution Request
- Parent Letter
- USDA Milk Substitution Rule
- USDA Memo SP26-2017 Accommodating Disabilities in the School Meal Programs Guidance and Q&A
- Modifications to Accommodate Disabilities in the School Meals Programs Link to USDA Memo
- Voluntary Guidelines to Manage Food Allergies in Schools and Early Childhood Care and Education Programs. Link to CDC
- NSLP Press Releases
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SY24 Sample News Releases
Sample NSLP News Release
Sample NSLP News Release for Private or Non-Public Schools
Sample Media Release for Special Provision Schools
- Waste and Recycling
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- Feeding pigs scraps
- Guidance on the Food Donation Program in Child Nutrition
- Let's Glean! USDA
- School Food Recovery Handbook by the Natural Resource Council of Maine
What's for Lunch? Four-Week Cycle Menu
| Cheeseburger Soup Pretzels Roasted Chickpeas Fruit Milk |
General Tso's Chicken with Sesame Noodles Broccoli Fruit Milk |
Hummus with Pita Chips Greek Salad Fruit Milk |
BBQ Pulled Pork with Whole Grain Bun Potato Salad Fruit Milk |
Roasted Chicken Focaccia Bread Gazpacho Fruit Milk |
| Ham & Cheese Wrap Corn Chowder Fruit Milk |
Chef Salad with Whole Grain Croutons Fruit Milk |
Creamy Chicken Taco Soup Tortilla Chips Fruit Milk |
Buffalo Chicken Wrap Baby Carrots Fruit Milk |
Fish Tacos Gold Fish Crackers Fruit Milk |
| Lasagna Dinner Roll Cherry Tomatoes Fruit Milk |
Broccoli Cheddar Soup Crackers Fruit Milk |
Big Mac Salad Breadstick Fruit Milk |
BBQ Chicken Cheddar Biscuit Roasted Corn Fruit Milk |
Steak & Cheese Pizza Roasted Chickpeas Fruit Milk |
| Chicken Caesar Salad with Whole Grain Croutons Fruit Milk |
Mac & Cheese Breadstick Sliced Cucumbers Fruit Milk |
White Bean & Chicken Chili Tortilla Chips Fruit Milk |
Carnitas Mexican Corn Fruit Milk |
Buffalo Chicken Dip Tortilla Chips Cheese Stick Cherry Tomatoes Fruit Milk |
For more information or questions about the National School Lunch Program please contact a Child Nutrition staff member.