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Child Nutrition Programs Civil Rights Requirements

Policy, guidance, and resources for civil rights compliance and processing complaints in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs (CNP).

Civil Rights Requirement | Compliance and Staff Responsibilities | Complaints | Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Important Notice
On March 3, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) released a memorandum titled Modifying the FNS Instruction 113‑1: Civil Rights Compliance and Enforcement – Nutrition Programs and Activities. The memorandum announces that FNS is updating FNS Instruction 113‑1. The memorandum instructs operators to discontinue citing FNS Instruction 113‑1 when responding to or addressing civil rights noncompliance in program operations. However, all civil rights and nondiscrimination laws and regulations remain fully in effect, including associated compliance and enforcement requirements. For more information, please refer to the policy memorandum External link opens in new window or tab. on the USDA FNS Documents and Resources web page.

Overview

Per Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Instruction 113-1 [Note: the preceding instruction is not currently available], the USDA requires Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operators and other subrecipients to adhere to all laws, regulations, instructions, policies, and guidance related to nondiscrimination. Nondiscrimination in all USDA programs and activities is a condition of receiving federal financial assistance for the CNP, regardless of whether the activities are federally funded in whole or in part.

For more in-depth information, use the hyperlinks at the top to access the following web pages. The Compliance and Staff Responsibilities web page outlines the requirements for CNP operators. The Complaints web page has information on submitting CNP complaints. The FAQ web page lists frequently asked questions about CNP civil rights and complaints.

Policy

Below are direct links to Civil Rights and Complaints Management Bulletins. Bulletins are in descending order by release date. Additional School Nutrition Programs (SNP) Management Bulletins can be found on the SNP Management Bulletins web page.

2026

Bulletin Number Bulletin Subject Release Date
N/A None available at the moment N/A

Resources

USDA FNS Instruction 113-1: Civil Rights Compliance and Enforcement

This Instruction is available on the FNS Instruction 113-1 web page [Note: the preceding instruction is not currently available]. The purpose of this Instruction is to establish and convey policy and provide guidance and direction to the USDA FNS and its recipients and customers and ensure compliance with and enforcement of the prohibition against discrimination in all FNS nutrition programs and activities, whether federally funded in whole or not.

USDA Eligibility Manual

Sponsors are required to follow the USDA Eligibility Manual for School Meals. The most current version is available on the USDA Eligibility Manual for School Meals web page External link opens in new window or tab. .

Note:California has a more stringent law than the federal law regarding Confidentiality and Disclosure. Sponsors must disregard the chapter in the USDA Eligibility Manual, and follow California Education Code (EC) sections 49557 and 49558.

USDA Policy Memos

Guidance issued by the USDA is available on the FNS Documents & Resources web pageExternal link opens in new window or tab..

USDA Website

The USDA Website is available at the USDA Website home page External link opens in new window or tab..

California Department of Education Management Bulletins

Guidance issued by the California Department of Education is available on the SNP Management Bulletins web page.

Federal Regulations

Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, Child Nutrition Programs (sections 210-249) is available on the U.S. Government Publishing Office Electronic Code of Federal Regulations web page External link opens in new window or tab..

Education Code

The California EC is available on the California Legislative Information web page External link opens in new window or tab..

Questions:   Complaints Coordinator | cnpcomplaints@cde.ca.gov | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Monday, June 1, 2026
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