FNS has used its authority under FFRCA to waive certain onsite monitoring requirements for the school meals programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program, so that programs can to maintain program integrity and support social distancing while providing meals.
This memorandum includes questions and answers intended to provide clarification to state agencies and program operators as they operate the child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, NSLP Seamless Summer Option and Child and Adult Care Food Program, during SY 2021-22.
This memo announces a new set of child nutrition program waivers for school year 2021-2022. Since March 2020, USDA has worked to ensure state agencies, schools and other community partners have the tools they need to maintain children’s access to nutritious meals during COVID-19.
This waiver cancels selected administrative data reporting requirements in the child nutrition programs, specifically the following: FNS-640 Administrative Review Report Form; FNS-828 School Food Authority Paid Lunch Price Report; FNS-874 Local Educational Agency Second Review of Applications; Ameliorative Action Plans for Verification Results; State Agency Food Safety Inspections Report; and Performance-Based Reimbursement (7 Cents) Quarterly Report.
Under this waiver, Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option operators in states that elect to be subject to this waiver may serve meals at school sites during unanticipated school closures in school year 2021-22.
Under this waiver, service institutions operating the Summer Food Service Program in states, whose agencies elect to be subject to this waiver, may operate open sites in areas that are not located in “Areas in which poor economic conditions exist” during unanticipated school closures in school year 2021-2022.
Under this waiver, Summer Food Service Program operators in states that elect to be subject to this waiver, and that elected to allow non-congregate meal distribution during COVID–19-related operations via COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #101, may distribute meals to a parent or guardian to take home to their children during an unanticipated school closure in school year 2021-22.
Under this waiver, Summer Food Service Program operators in states that elect to be subject to this waiver may serve meals outside of the standard meal times during unanticipated school closures in SY 2021-22. This waiver applies to state agencies administering, and service institutions operating, the Summer Food Service Program.
Under this waiver, Summer Food Service Program service institutions in states that elect to be subject to this waiver may provide non-congregate meals during COVID–19 operations during unanticipated school closures in school year 2021-22. This waiver applies to state agencies administering, and service institutions operating, SFSP.
FNS is granting a waiver of certain fiscal action requirements in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. This waiver is available for any state where there is a supply chain disruption with respect to foods served under such a qualified program and such disruption is due to COVID–19.