FNS Documents & Resources

The purpose of this Toolkit is to provide state agencies with guidance and resources to plan and implement Employment and Training (E&T) Programs under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called the Food Stamp Program). 

This memorandum provides Q&As related to the nationwide waivers released for school year 2021-22 and applies to state agencies administering, and local organizations operating, the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program and the NSLP Seamless Summer Option. 

In an effort to make the distribution of P-EBT benefits to eligible children as efficient as possible, USDA has developed a simple P-EBT summer plan template. The template allows states to elect a USDA-determined standard benefit that relieves states of the burden of determining their own benefit levels based on state-specific school district calendars.

This waiver allows schools and at-risk afterschool care centers, regardless of their location, to claim all NSLP,  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 CACFP 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 to participate in offer versus serve during school year 2021-22. 

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. 

Under this waiver, NSLP, SBP, and CACFP operators in states that elect to be subject to this waiver may serve meals outside of the standard meal times. 

This waiver allows the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option to operate when school is open during the regular school year through June 30, 2022.

This waiver allows state agencies the discretion to use a streamlined application process for sponsors that did not operate the Summer Food Service Program in FY 2020 due to COVID-19, but operated in FY 2019 and were in good standing. FNS is also waiving the requirement for state agencies to conduct pre-approval visits of SFSP sponsors that did not participate in FY 2020. 

USDA's summer meal programs work to make sure that doesn't happen. However, getting the meals to the kids and teens during summer can be difficult. During the summer, transportation may not be available to bring kids to the meals. So why not bring the meals to where the students live and play?