The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance regarding the expiration of the offsite monitoring for CACFP and the School Meal Programs after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.
This notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This collection is a revision of a currently approved collection for the School Meals Operations Study information collection with updated survey instruments for SY 2022-23. This study will collect data from state agencies and public on the continued use and effectiveness of the nationwide child nutrition COVID-19 waivers.
This is a new collection for the Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards Application. The Recognition Awards will recognize school food authorities (SFAs) that have made significant improvements to the nutritional quality of their school meals by exceeding the transitional school meal pattern requirements, engaging students, and implementing innovative practices. SFAs can apply to one or more Recognition Awards included in the application form.
FNS issued regulation that prescribe the methods for making payments of funds to state agencies to use for administrative expenses incurred in overseeing and providing technical assistance in connection with activities undertaken under the NSLP, the SMP, the SBP, the CACFP, and the FDP. For this revision, FNS has revised the FNS-525 form to eliminate data fields which collect data that can be obtained from the FNS financial data systems.
This guidance outlines an additional $471.5 million being provided by FNS to enhance local school districts’ ability to purchase foods for school meals by offering resources needed to address supply chain challenges directly to schools and school districts.
This notice announces the annual adjustments to the national average payments, the amount of money the federal government provides states for lunches, afterschool snacks, and breakfasts served to children participating in the NSLP and SBPs; to the maximum reimbursement rates, the maximum per lunch rate from federal funds that a state can provide a school food authority for lunches served to children participating in the NSLP; and to the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint of milk served to non-needy children in a school or institution that participates in the SMP for Children.
Nationwide waiver of the summer sponsor application deadline and to allow reimbursement for meals served prior to notification of approval for summer 2022 operations.
USDA is committed to providing nutrition assistance to hard-hit families across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. In support of President Biden’s call to action on hunger, USDA announced that it is increasing the Pandemic EBT benefit by approximately 15 percent, providing more money for low-income families and millions of children missing meals due to school and child care closures.
This memorandum provides guidance to state agencies and school food authorities as they transition from COVID-19 nationwide waivers. This guidance applies to state agencies and school food authorities administering the NSLP and the SBP in SY 2022-23 and SY 2023-24.