Civil Rights for School Nutrition Programs

Complaint Procedures  |   Guidance   |   Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
Required Civil Rights Poster  |   Required Civil Rights Presentation   |   Procedural Safeguards

Complaint Procedures

• Civil Rights Complaint Procedures for the School Nutrition Programs (PDF) (CSDE)

Guidance for Civil Rights Requirements

• USDA Memo CRD 01-2026: Modifying the FNS Instruction 113-1: Civil Rights Compliance and Enforcement – Nutrition Programs and Activities

Limited English Proficiency (LEP)

• English learner/Multilingual learner (CSDE webpage)
• Eligibility Manual for School Meals (PDF) (USDA)
• Limited English Proficiency (LEP) (USDA)
• Taglines and Providing Meaningful Access to the Child Nutrition Programs (PDF) (CSDE)
• Sample Taglines Form for Child Nutrition Programs (Word Document) (CSDE)
• USDA Memo SP 37-2016: Meaningful Access for Persons with Limited English Proficiency in the School Meal Programs: Guidance and Q&As

Required Civil Rights Poster

• “And Justice for All” Civil Rights Poster (USDA Form AD-475A): The USDA requires that school food authorities (SFAs) must display the current version of the green AJFA poster (11 inches by 17 inches) in a prominent location where program benefits/services are provided and it can be seen by program participants and potential participants. The USDA's current AJFA poster is dated March 2025 and is indicated as “Form AD-475-A—Title IX Poster/Published: March 2025/Language: English” on the bottom left of the poster. This is the only allowable version that SFAs can display.

Required Civil Rights Presentation

• Overview Handout: Civil Rights: Your Responsibilities in the School Nutrition Programs (PDF) (CSDE)
• Presentation: Civil Rights: Your Responsibilities in the School Nutrition Programs PowerPoint Presentation (CSDE)

Procedural Safeguards

• Requirements for Procedural Safeguards for Meal Modifications in School Nutrition Programs (PDF)

Nondiscrimination Statements (USDA and CSDE)