Inside USBE > Departments and Programs > Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) > Schools > National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public, non-profit private schools, and residential child care institutions. It provides payment for nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. Sponsors enter into agreements with the Utah State Board of Education Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) to participate. Our office also distributes State of Utah (liquor tax) funds to public schools for lunches.
Reimbursement is paid to sponsors based on meals served to children at the established free, reduced, and paid rate depending on the eligibility of the student served. NSLP Sponsors receive entitlement dollars based on the number of meals served that can be used to order United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foods as part of the Food Distribution Program (FDP).
National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement (English/Spanish Translation)
Schools wishing to operate the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) must be a public or private nonprofit elementary or secondary school, residential child care institution, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) school, or an educational service agency and become approved as an NSLP sponsor or participate under an existing program sponsor.
To become a sponsor of the NSLP a School Nutrition Programs Application for Intent to Participate must be submitted to the Utah State Board of Education Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) office by February 15 prior to the school year you hope to implement the NSLP at your school. The Application of Intent allows you to participate in the training and approval process to become a program sponsor. All training and approval requirements must be completed between February 15 and September 30 to operate the program as a sponsor.
Schools already providing the NSLP do not need to submit an Application of Intent to Participate for the following school year as they are already an approved program sponsor or are operating under an approved sponsor.
Schools may apply for the following status:
Reduces the normal requirements for annual determinations of eligibility for free and reduced-price school meals and daily meal counts by type (free, reduced-price and paid meals) at the point of service.
Allows the nation's highest poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without the burden of collecting household applications. Instead, schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students participating in other specific means-tested programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Utah State Board of Education CNP must publicly post potentially eligible sponsors and site annually. The deadline to complete the CEP application process is June 30.
Please contact the Utah State Board of Education CNP for assistance understanding qualification requirements or if you need assistance with the application process.
Please contact the Utah State Board of Education Child Nutrition Program (CNP) for all training requests.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Utah State Board of Education Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) provide many program resources to help sponsors operate a successful program.
CNPweb User Access Request Form
Google Forms
Equipment Approval List for Purchase
Exempted Fundraiser Application
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Medical Statement to Request Special Meals, Accommodations, Milk Substitutions | Declaración médica para solicitar comidas especiales, adaptaciones, sustitutos de
Medical Authority Checklist: Foods to Exclude and Substitute | Lista de verificación de la autoridad médica: Alimentos que se deben evitar y sustituir
NSLP Food Service Equipment Request Form
Google Forms
Request for equipment not on the approved equipment list.
School Nutrition Program Application of Intent to Participate
Menus and Meal Planning:
Professional Standards:
Program Resources:
Smart Snacks in School:
Student Eligibility:
Wellness Policy:
For information about waivers for sponsors regarding meal pattern requirements, contact a Utah State Board of Education CNP Specialist or e-mail schoolnutritionprograms@schools.utah.gov.
Reimbursements are based on meals served to children eligible at the established free, reduced, and paid rate. State reimbursement is distributed on a per lunch basis to public schools only.
Reimbursement Rates
July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023
Severe Need Lunch Reimbursement: School Food Authority (SFA):
Claims are due to the Utah State Board of Education:
Claim amendments that result in an upward amendment (additional reimbursement):
In coordination with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) our office distributes policy memorandums to provide guidance and clarify program requirements and regulations.
Memorandum: New Bulletin Distribution Explanation
A quick tutorial on how our office structures and distributes policy.
School Meals: Policy
Allows you to search for current and archived USDA/FNS published policy memorandums.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires state agencies to conduct procurement and administrative reviews of all National School lunch Program (NSLP) Sponsors.
Administrative reviews are conducted once in a three-year cycle at each School Food Authority (SFA) operating the National School Breakfast Program (NSBP) and/or the NSLP. Other Federal programs administered by the SFA are also reviewed which may include the Special Milk Program (SMP), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), Afterschool Snack Program (ASP), and Seamless Summer Option (SSO).
State Agencies are required to post the most recent results of a SFAs Administrative Review Report starting with school year 2016-2017 Transparency Requirement; USDA/Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Final Rule: Administrative Reviews in the School Nutrition Programs 81 FR 50170). School FSAs are also encouraged to post their review results on their public webpage. The State Agency must provide results to the public upon request.
Title 7: Part 210-Subpart D-Part 210.18-Section m
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR)
The Administrative Review covers two critical areas and several general program areas. The objective of the review is to determine program compliance, provide technical assistance, address items requiring corrective action, and assess fiscal action (as applicable). Follow-up and high risk SFAs may require additional reviews within the three-year cycle.
Meal Access and Reimbursement (PS1); Certification and Benefit Issuance Process (PS2).
Resource Management, Civil Rights, SFA On-site Monitoring, Local School Wellness Policy and School Meal Environment, Smart Snacks in School, Professional Standards, Water Availability, Food Safety, Storage, Buy American Provision, Reporting, Recordkeeping, National School Breakfast Program and Summer Food Service Program Outreach.
Utah State Board of Education Afterschool Snack Program (ASP)
Utah State Board of Education Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)
Utah State Board of Education Seamless Summer Option (SSO)
Utah State Board of Education Special Milk Program (SMP)
American Academy for Innovation
American International School of Utah
Beehive Science and Technology Academy
Per the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Policy Bulletin SP15-2018, eligible service providers must submit their requests to waive Child Nutrition Program (CNP) requirements to their respective State agencies. State agencies must submit requests to waive CNP requirements to their Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) regional office. FNS regional offices will review the waiver request for completeness and verify that the applicant provided the required public notice of their request. Notice and information provided to the public regarding the proposed waiver should be in the same manner in which the state or eligible service provider usually provides similar notices and information to the public. Acceptable methods include, but are not limited to:
Child Nutrition Program School Year (SY) 2023 Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Waiver Request
Child Nutrition Program Summer 2022 and School Year 2022-2023 Waiver Request
Child Nutrition Program School Year (SY) 2019 Administrative and Six Cent Waiver Request
Child Nutrition Program State Five Year Administrative Review (AR) Cycle Waiver Request
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance and Federal Award Identification Numbers
