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Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0068 FY 2021 National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grants for School Food Authorities

The purpose of this memorandum is to distribute $30 million provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 to state agencies to competitively award Equipment Assistance Grants to eligible school food authorities participating in the NSLP.

SP 13-2021
06/01/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0061 Department of Education Information on the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

Households with a child  approved to receive free or reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program during the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year are eligible for the Federal Communication Commission’s Emergency Broadband Benefit. EBB is a federal program to help eligible families pay for internet service during the pandemic.

SP 12-2021
05/19/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0050 Pandemic EBT – Summer 2021

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.

04/26/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0046 Nationwide Waiver of Area Eligibility in the Afterschool Programs and for Family Day Care Home Providers in SY 2021-22

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.

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #93
04/20/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0045 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Offer Versus Serve Flexibility for Senior High Schools in SY 2021-22

FNS waives, for all states, the requirement for senior high schools to participate in offer versus serve during school year 2021-22. 

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #92
04/20/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0042 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals for Children for SY 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. 

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #89
04/20/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0041 Nationwide Waiver of Meal Times Requirements for SY 2021-22

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. 

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #88
04/20/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0038 Nationwide Waiver to Allow the Seamless Summer Option through SY 2021-22

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.

Child Nutrition Response #85
04/20/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0034 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Sponsors that Successfully Participated in the SFSP in FY 2019 to Operate as Experienced Sponsors in FY 2021

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. 

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #83
04/02/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0032 Child Nutrition Emergency Operational Costs Reimbursement Programs: State Agency Implementation Plan Template and Q&A Guidance

This memorandum announces the release of the state agency supplemental implementation plan templates for use in the Child Nutrition Emergency Operational Costs Reimbursement Programs.

SP09 CACFP07-2021
03/15/2021
Page updated: October 14, 2021