School Meals Operations Study

The updated survey will collect timely data on policy, administrative and operational issues for the CN programs.

The USDA is authorized to conduct annual national performance assessments of the school meal programs, which include the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). The School Meals Operations (SMO) study was originally planned to conduct this annual assessment.

When the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools and disrupted NSLP and SBP operation, the SMO study collected data about the Child Nutrition (CN) programs used to feed children during the pandemic, which included the NSLP Seamless Summer Option (SSO), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in addition to NSLP and SBP. SMO study data correspond to school year (SY) 2019-20 through SY 2022-23 and help FNS answer annual research questions about (1) CN program participation, (3) meal counting, (4) financial management, and (5) CN program integrity.

This information collection will help FNS obtain:

1. General descriptive data on the characteristics of CN programs to inform the budget process and answer questions about topics of current policy interest;
2. Data on CN program operations to identify potential topics for training and technical assistance for state agencies and school food authorities responsible for administering the programs; and
3. Administrative data to identify CN program trends and predictors.

Comments regarding this information collection received by Sept. 23, 2024 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website https://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain .