Data & Research
This notice corrects a table for the initial Child Nutrition Program Income Eligibility Guidelines.
This guidance updates previously issued questions and answers to clarify the rural non-congregate summer meals option established through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, and codified through the interim final rulemaking, Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs.
This rulemaking proposes important modifications to make the application of serious deficiency procedures in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program consistent, effective, and in line with current requirements under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.
Improvements Coming Soon for Monitoring of Child Nutrition Programs
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service recently published a proposed rule that will help ensure the federal child nutrition programs are being operated properly. These regulatory updates will strengthen and clarify the process for correcting major mismanagement problems, also called serious deficiencies, found in FNS’ child nutrition programs.
The proposed changes will ensure that procedures in Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program, also known as CACFP and SFSP, align with current requirements under law, by:
- Providing operators a fair path to fully correct serious mismanagement problems;
- Clarifying termination and disqualification criteria for SFSP operators;
- Addressing legal requirements for obtaining records of individuals who are disqualified from the program and sponsoring organizations that operate in multiple states;
- Establishing a serious deficiency process for unaffiliated child care and adult day care centers in CACFP.
USDA is also proposing a standard definition of what it means for an operator to be in “good standing,” which currently does not exist.
This rule is one of many steps that USDA is taking to continually bolster the integrity of the federal child nutrition programs, which help millions of children across America reach their full potential.
The public is invited to comment on the proposed changes. The comment period is open until May 21, 2024.
###
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
This notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals, free milk, and Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer benefits for the period from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify the new criteria states must consider when determining which SFSP sites require pre-approval visits. The IFR requires state agencies to develop a process to determine which sites need pre-approval visits and must consider sites that are new to non- congregate. States are not required to visit each site that is new to operating non-congregate meal service.
The goal of the dashboard is to provide national and state level visualization of meals served, participation, and funding data for the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. The dashboard can be used by federal, state, and local organizations to assess trends in child nutrition program activity.
This webinar is geared towards state agencies and will address key provisions in the Interim Final Rule as related to providing non-congregate summer meals in rural areas.
This webinar is geared towards sponsors organizations and program operators and will address key provisions in the Interim Final Rule as related to providing non-congregate summer meals in rural areas.
State agency summaries for the non-competitive Technology Innovation Grants (nTIGs) awarded FY 21.