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Latest News for School Nutrition Programs

RELEASE - Multiple Sections of the Administrator's Reference Manual (ARM)

Published: 30 days ago

" Several revised Administrative Reference Manual (ARM) sections were posted and released on February 14, 2025. Most updates were made to incorporate elements of the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans as well as recent updates made to 2 CFR 200, the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Further general updates were made to clarify various existing ARM guidance.
"

Several revised Administrative Reference Manual (ARM) sections were posted and released on February 14, 2025. Most updates were made to incorporate elements of the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans as well as recent updates made to 2 CFR 200, the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Further general updates were made to clarify various existing ARM guidance.

Guidance changes and clarifications were made to the following:
•   Definitions
•   Section 2, Program Application & Agreement
•   Section 3, Civil Rights
•   Section 4, Eligibility Determination
•   Section 7, Breakfast Meals
•   Section 8, Lunch Meals
•   Section 9, Pre-Kindergarten Meals
•   Section 10, Afterschool Snacks & Meals
•   Section 14, USDA Foods
•   Section 14a, USDA Foods Processing
•   Section 16, Financial System
•   Section 17, Procurement
•   Section 17b, Buy American
•   Section 17c, Cooperative Purchasing
•   Section 18, Food Service Contracts
•   Section 19, Meal Pricing
•   Section 21, Meal Service
•   Section 22, Competitive Foods
•   Section 23, Food Product Labeling
•   Section 27, Professional Standards
•   Section 29, Local Wellness Policy

Update Guide sections located at the beginning of each ARM section provide more information about the topics addressed in each release. New language is also highlighted in yellow.

You can find the ARM on this page.

Please replace any previous versions of the above sections that you may have saved.

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Assistance available in English and Spanish. Please call 877-TEX-MEAL (877-839-6325) for help. Additional translations services available as well.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. Mail:

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

2. Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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