Eligibility

To comply with Section 10-215f of the Connecticut General Statutes, all public school districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) must submit the online HFC Statement (ED-099 Addendum) to the CSDE by July 1 of each year. Public school districts include the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS), charter schools, interdistrict magnet schools, and endowed academies. Private schools and residential child care institutions are not eligible for HFC.

The annual HFC Statement indicates whether each public school district will or will not comply with the Connecticut Nutrition Standards (CNS) for all foods sold to students separately from reimbursable meals. The CNS also applies to all foods offered in reimbursable snacks for the Afterschool Snack Program (ASP).

If the district will comply with the CNS, the annual HFC Statement also indicates whether the district will or will not allow exemptions for foods that comply with the three exemption criteria. For more information on exemptions, refer to the CSDE's resource, Exemptions for Foods and Beverages in Public Schools.

For information on the annual HFC application process, go to the "Apply" section in the left navigation bar.