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Resource | Policy Revised Prototype Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals

This memorandum provides information on the revised Prototype Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals. USDA updated the prototype application to improve the user experience for applicants by adjusting the reading level, streamlining the application instructions, and by adding clarity to the mailing instructions to reduce the number of applications sent to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.

SP16-2023
05/11/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Paid Lunch Equity: Guidance for SY 2023-24

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance to state agencies and school food authorities on the paid lunch equity requirements for school year 2023-24. It explains the exemption provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023 and provides guidance for SFAs that do not qualify for the exemption, including those who may be returning to PLE requirements for the first time in a few years.

SP 11-2023
04/05/2023
Resource | Policy Memos SFSP Best Practices for Meal Claim Verification and Ensuring Properly Payable Claims

This memorandum provides best practices for state agencies for using appropriate documentation for claim validation for self-preparation sites and ensuring claims are properly payable in the Summer Food Service Program.

SFSP 05-2023
04/03/2023
Resource | Policy SFMNP Publication of the 2023-24 Income Eligibility Guidelines

This policy memorandum transmits the 2023-24 income eligibility guidelines for the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.

03/31/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Head Start and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

SNAP and Head Start are working together to identify ways to promote early childhood education and nutrition services. Joint messaging or outreach reduces duplication and provides new ways to increase child development and nutrition security for children and families.

03/30/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas: Q&As #2

This memorandum is the second set of questions and answers on the rural non-congregate summer meals option established through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, and codified through the interim final rulemaking, Implementing Provisions from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023: Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs.

SFSP 08-2024, SP 15-2024
03/27/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Unique Entity Identifier Transition

In April 2022, federal agencies transitioned from use of the DUNS number to the Unique Entity Identifier. Child Nutrition Program Operators are required to have the UEI to receive payments from state agencies who administer the child nutrition programs on behalf of the federal government. This memorandum provides answers to questions related to the transition.

SP 07-2023, CACFP 06-2023, SFSP 04-2023
03/20/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Guidance on Performance Standards, Budgets, and Management Plans in the Summer Food Service Program

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance for state agencies and program operators on aspects of the final rule that aligned the SFSP with other child nutrition programs: performance standards, budgets, and management plans.

SFSP 03-2023
03/07/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Rural Designations in the Summer Meal Programs - Revised

The purpose of this memorandum is to revise guidance on rural designations in the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program’s Seamless Summer Option (SSO). The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 authorized a permanent non-congregate meal service option through the SFSP and SSO for children who live in rural communities with no congregate meal service. This memorandum supersedes SFSP policy memorandum SFSP 17-2015, Rural Designations in the Summer Food Service Program – Revised, April 21, 2017.

SFSP 04-2024, SP 06-2024
03/06/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023: Effect on Child Nutrition Programs

This memorandum provides notice to child nutrition program operators regarding the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, enacted on Dec. 29, 2022. 

SP 06-2023, CACFP 05-2023, SFSP 02-2023
03/03/2023
Page updated: October 14, 2021