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 Kentucky, 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 Kentucky Department of Education. Eligibility for free or reduced-price meals is determined by family income levels in relation to federal poverty 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 children receive balanced and healthy meals during the school day.