Collection of Race and Ethnicity Data

COLLECTION OF RACE AND ETHNICITY DATA FOR SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) require all School Meal Program sponsors to collect race and ethnicity data of participants in the program.   

To meet this requirement, School Meal Program sponsors must notify applicants and participants that

(1) the purpose for collecting race and ethnicity data is to determine how effectively School Meal Programs are reaching potentially eligible students,

(2) provision of this data is voluntary, (3) responses are kept confidential, and (4) responses have no effect on eligibility, 

(3) responses are kept confidential, and

(4) responses have no effect on eligibility.