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 California, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is implemented in accordance with federal guidelines set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program is designed to provide nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day. Eligibility for free or reduced-price meals is determined by family income levels, which are set annually by the federal government. The California Department of Education (CDE) administers the program at the state level, providing guidance and oversight to public and nonprofit private schools, as well as residential childcare institutions that participate in the NSLP. The state also ensures compliance with federal regulations, including nutritional standards and civil rights requirements, and provides training and technical assistance to local school food authorities.