National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

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. 
 

What Application and Accountability system can I use? CEP, Special Provision II or Traditional

NSLP During the Summer

• Operating NSLP During the Summer Webinar (30:00)
• Operating NSLP During the Summer (pdf)

CEP & Special Provisions

• 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

 

Meal Counting

• Alternative Points of Service Guidance
• A La Carte Weekly Record Sheet SNP-99C 
• Edit Check Worksheet
• Daily Record Form: After School Snack 
• Daily Record Form: School Breakfast EF-N-89 
• Daily Record Form: School Lunch EF-N-79 
• Daily Record Form: Milk Only EF-N-79M 

Equipment Information and Resources

• Equipment Assistance USDA grant to help schools purchase needed kitchen equipment.

Food Safety

• Administration and Enforcement of Establishments Regulated by Health Inspection Program
• DHHS/CDC School Inspection Policy
• Food Safe Schools: Creating a Culture of Food Safety
• Food Temp Chart
• Guidelines for Food Service Establishments to Safely Reopen after a Power Outage 
• 2013 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

Administrative & Procurement Review

• Review Information

Local Wellness Policy

• Local Wellness Policy Final Rule Summary
• USDA Local Wellness Policy Guidance and Q & A
• Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment
• Wellness Policy Checklist
• Team Nutrition Tools & Resources

Menu Planning Tools

• 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
• USDA Foods Crediting Guide 
• Menu Planner for School Meals link to USDA
• NSLP Meal Pattern 
• NSLP Quick Guide
• Offer versus Serve Manual. link to USDA
• Serving School Meals to Preschoolers 
• USDA Whole Grain Resource
• Vegetable Subgroup Chart

Tip Sheets - Links to USDA 

• Fruit Tip Sheet
• Meat/Meat Alternate Tip Sheet
• Milk Tip Sheet
• Vegetable Tip Sheet
• Grain Part 1
• Grain Part 2
• Grain Part 3

On-Site Monitoring Forms

• After School Snack Program On-site Monitoring Form To be completed twice a year. At the beginning and mid-year
• Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Program On-Site Monitoring Form
• School Nutrition Program On-Site Monitoring Form

Production Records

• Production Record K-12
• Salad-Deli Bar Production Record

Program Planning, Operations and Resources

• Annual Requirements for School Nutrition Programs
• Meal Per Worker Hours and Goals 
• Offer vs Serve Breakfast Tip Sheet
• Offer vs Serve Lunch Tip Sheet
• 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
• Sample Reimbursable Lunch Signage
• 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

• 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

• Accommodating Children with Special Dietary Needs in School Nutrition Programs
• Special Dietary Needs 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 Sample News Releases

Sample News Releases

• Sample NSLP News Release
• Sample NSLP News Release for Private or Non-Public Schools
• Sample NSLP News Release for Special Provision Schools

Waste and Recycling

• 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