National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program

If your entity would like to become a School Food Authority for the National School Lunch Program, please review our School Nutrition Programs New Applicant Guide for instructions on the forms required for submission. Upon review of the guidance forms, if you would like to apply, please use the following links: 

• School Food Authority Form for Prospective School Nutrition Program Operators
• Required Entity Organization Application Forms

The USDA Foods and the Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Produce Programs provide nutritious foods for schools to use in their school nutrition programs. For information, please email [email protected].

Thank you for your interest in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Applications for Program Year 2026/2027 CEP will open on April 15th, 2026, and will close on June 30th, 2026. Please review the CEP Application Guide for all requirements before applying.

• CEP Application (Available April 15 - June 30)

• National School Lunch Program (3-day, 4-day, 5-day, 6-day, 7-day)
• School Breakfast Program (3-day, 4-day, 5-day, 6-day, 7-day)

Administrative Reviews (ARs)

The Arizona Department of Education conducts administrative reviews (ARs) of all School Food Authorities (SFAs) operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast Program (SBP) at least once during each three-year review cycle. The AR consists of an off-site portion where the reviewer will request documents for the SFA to submit and an on-site portion where the reviewer will observe meal service at a select number of sites within the SFA. The reviewer will notify the SFA of the deadline for the off-site portion, the date of the on-site portion, and the sites that will be reviewed. The following programs will also be reviewed, if applicable: Afterschool Care Snack Program, At-Risk Afterschool Meals, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, and Seamless Summer Option of the Summer Food Service Program.

The required Procurement Review will also be conducted alongside the NSLP AR.

Review List

• Administrative Review Schedule: School Year 2025-2026

Training

• What to Expect: National School Lunch Program Administrative Review
• What to Expect: National School Lunch Program Procurement Review

Appeal Procedures

• School Food Authority Appeal Procedure for the Administrative Review

ADE Manuals and Handbooks

• School Nutrition Program Manual
• USDA Foods in Schools Program: myFOODS Systems Manual
• CNP Annual Financial Report Training Manual for Non-Public Schools 

ADE Toolkits

• Breakfast in the Classroom Toolkit
• Grab ‘N’ Go Breakfast Toolkit
• Second Chance Breakfast Toolkit

USDA Manuals and Handbooks

• The Eligibility Manual for School Meals, Revised July 2017 (changes highlighted)
• The 2017 Edition: Overcoming the Unpaid Meal Challenge: Proven Strategies from Our Nation’s Schools
• USDA's Accommodating Children with Disabilities in the School Meal Programs Guidance 
• Food Buying Guide
• Offering Meats and Meat Alternatives at School Breakfast - Grades Kindergarten Through 12 (K-12)
• Offering Smoothies as Part of Reimbursable School Meals - Grades Kindergarten Through 12 (K-12)
• Special Assistance: Provision 2 Guidance
• Community Eligibility Provisions: Planning and Implementation Guidance (Updated February 2024)
• Guide to Professional Standards for School Nutrition Programs
• Food-Safe Schools Action Guide - Creating a Culture of Food Safety
• Guidance for School Food Authorities: Developing a School Food Safety Program Based on the Process Approach to HACCP Principles
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Handbook for Schools
• USDA Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs
• A Guide to Smart Snacks in Schools
• Menu Planner for School Meals

Financial Guidance

• Indirect Costs: Guidance for State Agencies & School Food Authorities
• The Uniform System of Financial Records for Arizona School Districts
• The Uniform System of Financial Records for Arizona Charter Schools
• State Match for Districts and Charters
• Institute of Child Nutrition Financial Management Information System - 2nd Edition
• Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs
• Coping with Unpaid Meal Charges
• Local Meal Charge Policy

• Administrative Reviews Summary
• CEP Annual Notification and Publication for School Year (SY) 2026-2027
• Verification Non-Response Rate Report (PDF) (Excel)

The upLIFT webpage is created for you, the school nutrition professional, to learn and get inspired in how and what you feed your students. We hope you share your successes and ideas to teach your colleagues in Arizona. Together, we can influence positive dietary behaviors in
students!

The School Nutrition Programs Advisory Council (SNPAC) is comprised of dedicated school nutrition professionals who will advise ADE on issues that impact growth, compliance, and nutrition integrity in Arizona school nutrition programs. The SNPAC consists of 10 individuals representing 235 sites in Arizona. The council members were carefully selected to create a diverse and representative sample of LEAs in Arizona. The SNPAC will be meeting monthly in Program Year 2025. SFAs are encouraged to contact the SNPAC member who best represents their LEA with any questions or concerns they would like to bring to the council.

• Meet the SNPAC