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School Meals » National School Lunch Program

National School Lunch Program

The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.
 
Wilder’s Preparatory Academy Charter School is proud to announce our participation in the Universal Meals Program. In School Year (SY) 2022–23, California became the first state to implement a statewide Universal Meals Program for all school children. California’s Universal Meals Program is designed to build on the foundations of the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). The Universal Meals program is a program that allows schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of family income. Three key pillars have been established to ensure that the program is a success: 
  1. California’s State Meal Mandate is expanded to include both a nutritiously adequate breakfast and lunch for all children each school day.
  2. California’s Universal Meals Program requires very high poverty schools to participate in a federal provision.
  3. The California State Legislature allocates funds to provide state meal reimbursement to cover the cost of the Universal Meals Program.
 
Online Applications
Families can complete a  online meal application by visiting Linq Connect https://linqconnect.com/public/meal-application/new?identifier=DGZJ79
 
Families must first create an account on PaySchools. Online lunch applications are available at https://wildersprep.sdms2.com. Upon completing the lunch application your eligibility will reflect immediately on your child's lunch account. 
 
If you have any questions regarding this process please feel free to contact Dawna Sanchez by phone at

(310) 671-1416 or by email at [email protected] 

 
Smart Snacks Standards

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 required the US Department of Agriculture to establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools. The new Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards became effective July 1, 2014. This guidance provides updated nutrition standards for all foods and beverages sold on school campuses, to students during the school day, outside of the school meals programs. In California, these federal standards are combined with existing California law regarding competitive food sales on school campuses. This includes foods and beverages sold a la carte in school cafeterias, in school stores, at snack bars, through fundraising, from vending machines, and any other venues that sell food to students. The intent of the legislation is to increase the consumption of healthy foods during the school day and create an environment that reinforces the development of healthy eating habits.

The Smart Snacks standards do not apply to: (1) items sold more than 30 minutes after school ends, on weekends, or off and away from school grounds; or (2) foods brought from home for personal consumption.

Additional information about Smart Snacks in Schools is available at https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/tools-schools-focusing-smart-snacks

Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter 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; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.