USDA Seeks Feedback on School Lunch Survey Overhaul
Published Date: 1/23/2026
Notice
Summary
The USDA wants to keep checking in with school food authorities to learn about the challenges they face running child nutrition programs. They’re updating their survey process to make it easier and clearer, and they’re asking for public feedback by March 24, 2026. This helps schools serve kids better without adding extra paperwork headaches or costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Annual SFA Survey Reclassified
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service will reclassify its school food authority (SFA) survey as an OMB Generic Clearance to collect annual data in school years 2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029. This change lets FNS make small annual changes to the survey instrument more quickly so it can gather information faster to support SFAs.
Survey Will Track Key SFA Challenges
The annual survey will collect data from SFAs about emerging operational challenges such as food costs, procurement challenges, labor shortages, changes to nutrition standards, impacts on operations and student participation, and strategies SFAs use. FNS says this timely data will allow it to better support SFAs and respond more quickly to potential disruptions.
Time Burden on State and SFA Respondents
Each year FNS expects about 18,692 listed respondents (56 State Agency Directors and 18,636 SFA Directors) and estimates total annual burden of 4,406.3 hours. The average time per contact is about 9.6 minutes, and the full survey instrument takes up to 20 minutes to complete.
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