Nutrition Programs

National School Lunch Program

What is the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)?

The NSLP is a voluntary program available to all public schools, private schools, and residential child care institutions which agree to operate a non-profit program offering lunches meeting federal requirements to all children in attendance. Through the NSLP, public and non-profit private schools, preprimary classes in schools, and residential child care institutions receive cash reimbursement for each meal served. Participation in the program is voluntary. The sponsors of the program must:

Serve meals that meet federal requirements,
Operate a non-profit program,
Offer free or reduced-price meals to eligible children based on household income,
Not identify nor discriminate against any eligible student, and
Operate food service for all students without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

Who qualifies for free or reduced-price lunches?

Any child at a participating school may purchase a meal through the NSLP. Participating schools and institutions must provide free and reduced-price breakfasts to eligible children. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals. Children from families with incomes over 185 percent of poverty pay full price, though their meals are still subsidized to some extent.

How are sponsors reimbursed for meals?

The sponsors receive reimbursement based on the number of meals served to children per category: free, reduced-price, and paid. Schools can charge no more than 40 cents for a reduced-price lunch. USDA sets no limit on the amount schools can charge for a full-price meal. However, the sponsors must operate their meal services as non-profit programs.

For the NSLP, extra reimbursement is available for those sponsors who have 60% more free and reduced-price lunches served in the second preceding year.

What are the meal nutrition requirements?

School meals must meet Federal nutrition requirements and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, but decisions about what foods to serve and how they are prepared are made by school food authorities (SFAs). Regulations establish a standard for school lunches to provide one-third of the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA) of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron, and calcium. In addition, an adequate amount of calories must be provided for students. Schools' compliance with both the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the RDA's is measured over a school week's menu.

School food authorities must choose one of four systems for their menu planning: Nutrient Standard (NuMenus and Assisted NuMenus), Enhanced Food-Based, or Traditional Food-Based. With the NuMenus and Assisted NuMenus menu planning systems, a computerized nutritional analysis of the week's menu is conducted. The Enhanced Food-Based and Traditional Food-Based menu planning options base menu planning on a minimum number of components and quantities of meat or meat alternate; vegetables and fruits; grains and breads; and milk.

What are the sponsor’s responsibilities for administering the program?

Administrative responsibilities for the program include:

Maintain financial records to ensure non-profit status,
Provide applications for meal benefits to each household,
Approve and/or deny applications for meal benefits,
Verify current income from a sample of households selected,
Ensure meals meet federal nutrient standards,
Take meal counts at the point of service,
Conduct a monthly edit of meal counts,
Conduct an on-site review of each school to ensure accurate counting and claiming of meals,
Submit claims for reimbursement, and
Competitively bid for purchased food, supplies, equipment, and services.

An annual application must be submitted each year in order to apply for funding. Applications are for the federal fiscal year, October 1 through September 30.

How can you apply to become a sponsor?

To apply to be a new sponsor in the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, Special Milk, Illinois Free Breakfast and Lunch, and Food Distribution Program, click on the link below to obtain the forms you need to complete for the programs in which you choose to participate. New applications may be submitted at any time. Applications are valid from the date of approval through September 30 each year.

Program Participation Request Form

Are there any additional application requirements?

Private Non-profit Schools
In addition to the above forms, private non-profit schools must be recognized as a school by the Illinois State Board of Education and submit a copy of the tax exempt letter showing status under the section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Private Residential Child Care Institutions
Private residential child care institutions must submit a license or a document indicating that a license is not required.

How does an SFA contract with a Food Service Management Company or Vendor?

School food authorities may contract with a food service management company or vendor to provide their meal services. You are required to meet or exceed federal procurement procedures and regulations that govern Child Nutrition Programs when developing the proposal and awarding the contract. To ensure compliance with federal procurement procedures and continued funding, school food authorities must submit contract documents to our office for review prior to seeking bids. All new contracts and renewals should be mailed to the Illinois State Board of Education, 100 North First Street W-270, Springfield, Illinois 62777.

For additional information and forms go to http://www.isbe.net/nutrituion/htmls/contract_renewals.