The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost, or free lunches to children each school day. The NSLP was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.
In Alaska, as in all states, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) operates to provide nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children during school days. The program is federally funded and administered at the state level by the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development. Eligibility for free or reduced-price meals is determined by family income levels, which are set in accordance with federal guidelines. Schools participating in the NSLP are required to serve meals that meet specific nutrition standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure that children receive appropriate nutritional content. Compliance with these standards is monitored by state agencies to ensure that the objectives of the NSLP are met.