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(877) TEX-MEAL (Se habla Español)
Texas Department of Agriculture, National School Lunch Program Banner
Programs > National School Lunch Program > Back to School
Back to School
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Make it a great school year by using the resources below to promote child nutrition, educate parents and the community, and prepare for a year filled with healthy school meals for students!



 
Meal Application One Pager for Parents - Text 
Meal Application One Pager for Parents - Text 
Meal Application One Pager for Parents - Text 
Meal Application One Pager for Parents - Text 
Communications  Maximize 
Use the following USDA outreach resources to inform your community about the school meal, afterschool, childcare, and summer meal programs. Messages in a variety of forms is available to help you lift up school meals and those that make it possible!

USDA Back-to-School Key Messages

USDA Media Toolkit - Includes the following:
  • Video Soundbites
  • B-roll Video
  • Sample Social Media Content
  • USDA Media Contacts

Flyers and Fact Sheets  Maximize 
Use these downloadable resources as informative tools to educate parents and school community about the benefits of the national meal programs and how to apply for free and reduced price school meals this year.










Apply for Free and Reduced Price School Meals Today Handout
National School Lunch Program 101 Handout
School Breakfast Program 101 Handout
Lunches Consumed from School are the Most Nutritious

Back to School Meal Rates  Maximize 
Use the resources below to find the reimbursement rates for school meals this school year and exciting information about the opportunity to offer reduced-price breakfast meals for free at your schools!
  • Reimbursement Rates for SY 23-24 
  • Reduced-Price Breakfast Now FREE!!  

Support for School Meals  Maximize 
School Meals Webpage: Hub for all things school meals; includes resources and information about the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Special Milk Programs, and USDA initiatives that promote consumption of healthy foods and nutrition education. 



USDA Support for School Meals: Webpage highlighting financial support, such as grants and extra food funds, provided to schools for their meal programs since 2021.


Child Nutrition Success Stories: Check out these pages to learn about amazing school meals and programs supporting students across the country!






 

Back to School Calendar of Events  Maximize 
See below for a list of key events to participate in and/or promote during the first three months of school.


 

August
Back to School: School Meal Applications
More Students Can Enjoy Free School Breakfast – marketing and promotion
  • Information found here: Reduced-Price Breakfast Now Free (squaremeals.org)
  • Additional resources can be found here: More Students Can Enjoy Free School Breakfast! - TEXAS (nokidhungry.org)


 

September
Healthy Meals Incentives
  • Opportunity to apply for Recognition Awards: www.squaremeals.org/HMI 


 

October

October 1 – 31 Farm Fresh Challenge

  • Join the Farm Fresh Challenge! Eat local. Teach Local. Be Social. More information: Farm Fresh Challenge (squaremeals.org)
October  1 – 31 Farm to School Month  
  • Celebrate school foods sourced from local farms! See Farm to School Month (squaremeals.org) for resources and information.
October 14 – 18 National School Lunch Week (NSLW)
  • Access NSLW resources and information: www.squaremeals.org/NSLW 

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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