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 Pennsylvania, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) operates in line with federal guidelines to provide nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children during school days. The program is available in public and nonprofit private schools, as well as residential childcare institutions. Eligibility for free or reduced-price meals is determined by federal income guidelines, and the program is administered at the state level by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The NSLP aims to ensure that all students have access to healthy meals during the school day, which is essential for their growth, learning, and development. Funding for the NSLP comes from federal sources, and the program is continually updated to meet dietary guidelines and nutrition standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).