Interim Rule on Applying for Free and Reduced Price Meals or Free Milk
TO: Sponsors of
School Nutrition Programs
Special Milk Program – Free Milk Applications Option
FROM: Joseph Lee, Policy Coordinator
Food and Nutrition Service
DATE: November 16, 2007
SUBJECT: Interim Rule on Applying for Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published an interim rule on “Applying for Free and Reduced Price Meals in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program and for Benefits in the Special Milk Program and Technical Amendments.” The interim rule makes changes effective December 13, 2007 to federal program regulations (7 CFR 210, 215, 220, and 245). However please note that many of these regulatory changes have already been implemented during the past two years based on implementation memorandums from USDA.
As an interim rule, the rule goes into effect now but at the same time USDA requests that school food authorities send any comments about the rule by May 12, 2008. USDA will consider all submitted comments before the rule is republished as a final rule at a later date. To submit comments, follow the instructions provided on the first page of the rule.
The complete text of the interim rule is available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/interim/2007-11-13.pdf. A summary of the rule from USDA is provided below.
If you have any questions about this information, please contact MDE Food and Nutrition Service at 651-582-8526, 800-366-8922, or email to fns@state.mn.us.
USDA summary of interim rule on Applying for Free and Reduced Price Meals:
This interim rule amends the regulations on eligibility determinations for free and reduced price school meals to implement nondiscretionary provisions of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. In this interim rule, the statutory definition of ‘‘local educational agency’’ is added. In addition, this interim rule specifies that a family only has to submit one application for all children in the household as long as they attend schools in the same local educational agency and requires enhancement of the descriptive materials distributed to families. This rule provides for electronically-submitted applications, addresses electronic signatures and establishes use and disclosure standards for such applications. This rule establishes that eligibility for free or reduced price school meals remains valid for one year unless the household chooses to decline a level of benefits. These changes are intended to provide children with increased access to the school nutrition programs by simplifying the certification process, streamlining program operations and improving program management.
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