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 Illinois, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) operates in line with federal guidelines to provide nutritious, low-cost or free lunches to children in public and nonprofit private schools, as well as residential childcare institutions. The program is funded by federal dollars and administered at the state level by the Illinois State Board of Education. Eligibility for free or reduced-price meals is determined by household income levels set by the federal government, and the program aims to ensure that all students have access to healthy meals during the school day. Schools participating in the NSLP must adhere to nutrition standards established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which include requirements for serving fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while limiting calories, fats, and sodium.