Skip to main content

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

Office of P-20 Education Policy
Child Nutrition Program Administration
89 Washington Avenue, Room 375 EBA, Albany, NY 12234
Phone: (518) 473-8781 Fax: (518) 473-0018

To: 
School Food Service Directors/Managers
From: 
Child Nutrition Program Administration
Date: 
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Subject: 
Approved State-level Waiver Requests

The New York State Education Department has received State-level waiver authority from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to approve the following operational flexibilities that may be needed to provide meals to students required to learn virtually due to an unanticipated school closure during the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year.

Non-Congregate Meal Service

Upon approval from NYSED, allows students to consume meals outside of school settings.

Meal Service Times

Upon approval from NYSED, this waives the meal service time requirements.

Parent/Guardian Meal Pickup

Upon approval from NYSED, meals may be provided to a parent/guardian to take home to their children.

Offer Versus Serve

Upon approval from NYSED, allows senior high schools to not implement offer versus serve at lunch.

 

Please contact your CN representative with any questions regarding this information or in the event that your SFA needs to utilize these waivers.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

  1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
  2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
  3. Emailprogram.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Top