FNS Documents & Resources

FNS waives, for all states, the requirements to serve meals that meet specified meal pattern requirements during the public health emergency due to COVID–19. This waiver applies to state agencies administering and local organizations operating the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. These flexibilities also apply to the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option.

Under this waiver, Child and Adult Care Food Program operators in states that elect to be subject to this waiver may serve meals that do not meet specified meal pattern requirements during the public health emergency due to COVID-19. 

This memo announces a new suite of child nutrition program nationwide waivers and flexibilities to support a successful school reopening in school year 2021-2022.

FNS waives, for all CACFP sponsoring organizations, that CACFP monitoring requirements be conducted onsite. To ensure program integrity during this time, sponsoring organizations should continue monitoring activities of program operations offsite. This waiver extends the Nationwide Waiver of Monitoring Requirements for Sponsors in the CACFP granted on Aug. 4, 2020 that expires on Sept. 30, 2021. 

FNS waives, for all state agencies, that CACFP monitoring requirements of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act be conducted onsite. To ensure program integrity during this time, state agencies should continue monitoring activities of program operations offsite. This waiver extends the Nationwide Waiver of Monitoring Requirements for State Agencies in the Child and Adult Care Food Program – EXTENSION 2 granted on Aug. 4, 2020 that expires on Sept. 30, 2021. 

FNS waives, for all state agencies and school food authorities, school meal programs onsite monitoring requirements. This waiver extends the Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements in the School Meals Programs – Revised – Extension 2 granted on Aug. 4, 2020 that expires on June 30, 2021. 

This waiver allows schools and at-risk afterschool care centers, regardless of their location, to claim all National School Lunch Program Afterschool Snack Service and Child and Adult Care Food Program At-risk Afterschool Program meals and snacks at the free rate. This waiver also allows day care homes participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program to claim all meals served to enrolled children at the Tier 1 rate, regardless of their location.

FNS waives, for all states, the requirement for senior high schools (as defined by the state education agency) to participate in offer versus serve during school year 2021-2022. 

Under this waiver, National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program operators in a state with an approved waiver allowing non-congregate meal distribution during COVID–19-related operations may distribute meals to a parent or guardian to take home to their children. 

USDA intends to use all available program flexibilities and contingencies to serve our program participants across our 15 nutrition programs. We have already begun to issue waivers to ease program operations and protect the health of participants.