Laws and Regulations for Child Nutrition Programs

Overview

School Nutrition Programs | SFSP | CACFP

School Nutrition Programs and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

The links below provide information on the federal and state laws and regulations for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs, competitive foods in schools, and nutrition-related requirements. The USDA's Child Nutrition Programs include the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and school nutrition programs, which include the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP) , Afterschool Snack Program (ASP) of the NSLP, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), Special Milk Program (SMP), and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) of the NSLP.


Connecticut General Statutes  |   Connecticut Governor's Executive Orders
Connecticut Regulations  |   USDA Legislation for School Meals
USDA Regulations  |   USDA Final Rules  |   USDA Proposed Rules


Connecticut General Statutes for School Foods and Beverages

The state statutes apply to all public schools but do not apply to private schools or residential child care institutions (RCCIs). 

  • Section 10-215: Lunches, breakfasts and other feeding programs for public school children and employees
    • 2021 Amendments (effective July 1, 2021): Collection of unpaid charges and acceptance of gifts, donations and grants
  • Section 10-215a: Nonpublic school and nonprofit agency participation in feeding programs
  • Section 10-215b: Duties of State Board of Education regarding feeding programs
  • Section 10-215e: Nutrition standards for food that is not part of lunch or breakfast program
  • Section 10-215f: Certification that food meets nutrition standards
  • Section 10-215h: Child nutrition outreach program.
  • Section 10-215i: Information and notice regarding supplemental nutrition assistance program
  • Section 10-215j: School nutrition program bids by food service management companies. Consistency with farm to school program. Preference in award of contract
  • Section 10-215k: Submission of report regarding nonimplementation of Community Eligibility Provision 
  • Section 10-221o: Lunch periods, recess
    • CSDE Operational Memorandum No. 10-19: Requirements for Lunch Periods in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
    • Circular Letter C-9: Federal and State Requirements for Provision and Timeframe of Daily Lunch Period for Students
  • Section 10-221p: Boards to make available for purchase nutritious and low-fat foods
  • Section 10-221q: Sale of beverages
  • Section 10-266w: School breakfast grant program.
  • Section 10-303: Food service facilities and vending stands in public buildings controlled by Department of Aging and Disability Services. Permissible uses of vending machine income
  • Section 22-38d: Farm to school program and Connecticut-Grown for Connecticut Kids Week

Connecticut Governor's Executive Orders

  • Governor Lamont's Executive Orders
  • Executive Order No 9K (School Year 2020-21): Protection of Public Health and Safety during COVID-19 Pandemic – Increased Protective Measures in Response to COVID-19
    Takes several emergency actions in response to the COVID-19 outbreak and the governor's civil preparedness and public health declarations, including: Repeal of municipal authority and return to statewide protective measures; Return to Phase 2 limits on certain gatherings; Reduced capacity at indoor graduation ceremonies; DECD authority to enact sector rules for youth sports; DECD authority to enact sector rules governing mandatory closing times for certain businesses and other establishments; Extension of expanded outdoor dining; Extension of prohibition on sale of alcohol by certain permittees without the sale of food; and Flexibility for school nutrition programs.

Connecticut Regulations for Competitive Foods

The state competitive foods regulations apply to all public schools, private schools, and RCCIs that participate in the USDA's school nutrition programs. For guidance on complying with the federal and state requirements for competitive foods, visit the CSDE's Competitive Foods in Schools webpage.

Finding State and Federal Legislation

USDA Legislation for School Meals

USDA Regulations for Child Nutrition Programs

USDA Final Rules for Child Nutrition Programs

CACFP  |   School Nutrition Programs  |   SFSP


Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Final Rules and Correcting Amendments
  • Afterschool Snacks in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (Final Rule 72 FR 41591)
  • Disregard of Overpayments in the CACFP, NSLP and SBP (Final Rule 71 FR 30561)
  • Management of Donated Foods in Child Nutrition Programs, the Nutrition Services Incentive Program, and Charitable Institutions (Final Rule 73 FR 46169)
  • Meal Patterns for the CACFP
    • Amendments to the Child Nutrition Infant Meal Pattern (Final Rule 67 FR 36779)
    • CACFP Meal Pattern Revisions Related to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Final Rule 81 FR 24347)
      • Correction: CACFP Meal Pattern Revisions Related to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Final Rule 81 FR 75671)
      • Technical Amendments: CACFP Meal Pattern Revisions Related to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Rule 86 FR 57544): The CACFP requirement to credit grains in ounce equivalents was implemented on October 1, 2021.This also applies to the crediting of grains served to infants and toddlers in the NSLP and SBP. This document corrects the final regulations to align meal pattern tables and corresponding endnotes with regulatory requirements.
      • Correcting Amendments: CACFP Meal Pattern Revisions Related to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Correcting Amendments 87 FR 4126): Corrects meal pattern servings for ready-to-eat cereal for infants in the CACFP and NSLP, yogurt for all age groups at CACFP snack, and milk for ages 3-5 at CACFP snack.
    • Modification of the Vegetable Protein Products Requirements for the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program (Final Rule 65 FR 12429)
  • Geographic Preference Option for the Procurement of Unprocessed Agricultural Products in Child Nutrition Programs (Final Rule 76 FR 22603)
  • Disclosure of Children's Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk Eligibility Information in the Child Nutrition Programs (Final Rule 72 FR 10885) 
  • Management of Donated Foods in Child Nutrition Programs, the Nutrition Services Incentive Program, and Charitable Institutions (Final Rule 73 FR 46169)
  • Nondiscretionary Amendments Related to the HHFKA of 2010 (Final Rule 78 FR 13443)
School Nutrition Programs Final Rules
  • Administration
  • Donated Foods 
    • Management of Donated Foods in Child Nutrition Programs, the Nutrition Services Incentive Program, and Charitable Institutions (73 FR 46169)
  • Food Safety
  • Free and Reduced-price Meals
    • 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 (Final Rule 76 FR 66849)
      • Correction: 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 (Final Rule 76 FR 78095)
    • Determining Eligibility for Free and Reduced Price Meals in Schools-Verification Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements (Final RuleFinal Rule 68 FR 53483)
    • Direct Certification of Eligibility for Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk in Schools (Final Rule Final Rule 64 FR 72466)
    • Disclosure of Children's Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk Eligibility Information in the Child Nutrition Programs (Final Rule 72 FR 10885) 
    • National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Eliminating Applications through Community Eligibility as Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Final Rule 81 FR 50194)
    • NSLP and SBP Alternatives to Standard Application and Meal Counting Procedures (Final Rule 66 FR 48323)
    • NSLP Independent Review of Applications Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Final Rule 79 FR 7049)
  • Meal Patterns for School Nutrition Programs
    • Amendments to the Child Nutrition Infant Meal Pattern (Final Rule 67 FR 36779)
    • Child Nutrition Programs: Rescission of Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Flexibilities: Notice of Vacatur (85 FR 74847)
    • Certification of Compliance With Meal Requirements for the National School Lunch Program Under the HHFKA of 2010 (Final Rule 79 FR 325)
      • Correction: Certification of Compliance With Meal Requirements for the National School Lunch Program Under the HHFKA of 2010 (Final Rule 79 FR 2761)
    • Fluid Milk Substitutions in the School Nutrition Programs (73 FR 52903)
    • Marketing and Sale of Fluid Milk in Schools (Final Rule 74 FR 38889)
    • Modification of the Vegetable Protein Products Requirements for the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program (Final Rule 65 FR 12429)
    • Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs (Final Rule 77 FR 4087)
      • USDA Memo SP 05-2022: Meal Requirements Under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Questions and Answers for Program Operators Updated to Support the Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Effective July 1, 2022
    • Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium (Final Rule 87 FR 6984)
  • Professional Standards for School Nutrition Programs
    • Hiring Flexibility under Professional Standards (Final Rule 84 FR 6953)
    • Professional Standards for State and Local School Nutrition Programs Personnel as Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Final Rule 80 FR 11077)
      • Correction: Professional Standards for State and Local School Nutrition Programs Personnel as Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Final Rule 80 FR 26181)
  • Procurement
    • Geographic Preference Option for the Procurement of Unprocessed Agricultural Products in Child Nutrition Programs (Final Rule 76 FR 22603)
    • Procurement Requirements for the National School Lunch, School Breakfast and Special Milk Programs (Final Rule 72 FR 61479)
  • School Wellness Policy
  • Smart Snacks Nutrition Standards
    • National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in School as Required by the HHFKA of 2010 (Final Rule Final Rule 81 FR 50131)
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Final Rules
  • Disclosure of Children's Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk Eligibility Information in the Child Nutrition Programs (Final Rule 72 FR 10885) 
  • Geographic Preference Option for the Procurement of Unprocessed Agricultural Products in Child Nutrition Programs (Final Rule 76 FR 22603)
  • Management of Donated Foods in Child Nutrition Programs, the Nutrition Services Incentive Program, and Charitable Institutions (Final Rule 73 FR 46169)
  • Modification of the Vegetable Protein Products Requirements for the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program (Final Rule 65 FR 12429)
  • Nondiscretionary Amendments Related to the HHFKA of 2010 (Final Rule 78 FR 13443)
  • SFSP Implementation of Legislative Reforms (65 FR 82246)
  • Simplified Cost Accounting and Other Actions To Reduce Paperwork in the SFSP (Final Rule 83 FR 25349)
    • Correction: Simplified Cost Accounting and Other Actions To Reduce Paperwork in the Summer Food Service Program (Final Rule 84 FR 15501)
  • Streamlining Program Requirements and Improving Integrity in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) (Final Rule 87 FR 57304)

USDA Proposed Rules for Child Nutrition Programs