FNS Documents & Resources

USDA continues to work with state child nutrition agencies to offer flexibilities in response to public health needs while still promoting nutritious meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This document provides information to states to assist in the development of state plans to operate Pandemic EBT for school children and children in child care.

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. 

FNS is establishing a nationwide waiver to support schools unable to complete a triennial assessment of the local school wellness policies by June 30, 2021, due to school closures as a result of COVID–19. This waiver applies to state agencies that have local educational agencies administering the NSLP and/or SBP.

This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to child nutrition program oversight, monitoring, and administration. 

Under this waiver, CACFP 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 2021-22.

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. 

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.