USDA has just officially launched the E.A.T. School Lunch UX Challenge!  We are currently accepting submissions through March 1, 2016. You can find our listing on the challenge website. Challengers have an opportunity to win up to $50,000 in cash prizes. Please help us spread the word!

Through this challenge, FNS’s hopes to develop a prototype electronic application for our school meal programs that incorporates the best ideas and insights from UX designers and software developers.

This prototype would be shared with all school districts.  In total, about 100,000 schools and institutions serve more than five billion meals through the National School Lunch Program and two billion via the School Breakfast Program to America’s children each school year. The resulting electronic application is expected to help facilitate accurate completion and processing, thereby reducing improper payments and ensuring eligible students have access to free or reduced price meals.