Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Foreign Exchange Students

Nutrition Services Division Management Bulletin

To: Sponsors of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program, County Superintendents of Schools, Diocesan Superintendents of Schools

Number: 97-121

Attention: Food Service Directors

Date: October 1997
From: School Nutrition Programs

Subject: Foreign Exchange Students

This Management Bulletin transmits information received from the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on foreign exchange students' eligibility for free and reduced-price meals.

School Nutrition Programs receives many questions each year as to whether a foreign exchange student is considered to be a household of one. The answer is "No." A foreign exchange student is considered to be a member of the household in which he or she resides. This policy is consistent with the information provided in the USDA Eligibility Manual for School Meals, which is available on the USDA School Meals Guidance and Resources web page at https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/guidance-and-resources. [Note: the preceding web address is no longer valid, and has been replaced with https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/eligibility-manual-school-meals].

If households in your district believe they are participating in a program having a legislative provision excluding their income when determining eligibility for an exchange student, please obtain as much information as possible about that program.

Questions:   Nutrition Programs Unit | SNPInfo@cde.ca.gov
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Related Content
Trending in Nutrition
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • Salad Bars in the School Nutrition Programs (added 18-Nov-2025)
    Management Bulletin has been revised to update links to resources and contact information. Policy guidance has not changed for the School Nutrition Programs (SNP) and remains current.
  • Annual SNP Verification Requirements (added 17-Nov-2025)
    Reminder to complete the annual SNP verification activities.
  • Learning Management System Account Setup (added 14-Nov-2025)
    This new learning management system will be used as the primary venue for delivering training content to satisfy your annual mandatory training hours for Professional Standards and beyond. These webinars will assist with account setup and overview.
  • Professional Standards in the SNP (added 06-Nov-2025)
    Management Bulletin SNP-12-2025: Questions and Answers Professional Standards in the SNPs
  • Student Access to Meals and Food (added 05-Nov-2025)
    NSD Guidance and Resources for Accessing Meals and Food.

  • DoD Fresh Updates and Reminders (added 05-Nov-2025)
    This MB updates the policy for the DoD Fresh entitlement request process, receipting requirements and provides important reminders regarding DoD Fresh and the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Ordering and Receipting System (FFAVORS).
  • DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Reminders (added 03-Nov-2025)
    Management Bulletin FDP-01-2025: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Entitlement Request Process Change and Reminders – Revised
  • 2025 KIT Grant & Retention & Recruitment Grant (added 30-Oct-2025)
    The 2025 KIT Grant competitively awards funding to SFAs to improve the quality of meals served through the NSLP & SBP. The Retention & Recruitment Grant competitively awards funding to support the retention and recruitment of food service staff.
  • Hormel Foods Recalls Ready-To-Eat Chicken Products (added 29-Oct-2025)
    Hormel Foods Corporation Recalls Ready-To-Eat Frozen Chicken Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination.
  • M.C.I. Foods Recalls Breakfast Burritos & Wraps (added 23-Oct-2025)
    M.C.I. Foods, Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Breakfast Burrito and Wrap Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination.