National School Lunch Program

A recently published final rule entitled, Partnerships With Faith-Based and Neighborhood Organizations at 89 FR 15671, has amended USDA regulations at 7 CFR part 16. Effective July 2, 2024, these changes require Child Nutrition Program operators to take specific actions to ensure compliance.

Key Requirements:

In August 2024, the New York State Education Department, Office of Child Nutrition Program Administration, will host in-person trainings specifically designed for food service directors and managers who have been in their positions for five years or less. These full-day sessions, held at multiple locations statewide, will offer comprehensive training covering all aspects of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. 

The full USDA memo SP 24-2024, CACFP 10-2024, SFSP 14-2024 can be found at: https://www.cn.nysed.gov/sites/cn/files/geographic-preference-option-qa.pdf.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is requesting to waive National School Lunch Program (NSLP) requirements at 42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(1)(A) and 1758(a)(3), and under Program regulations at 7 CFR sections 210.10(e) and 210.10(l), and School Breakfast Program (SBP) requirements at 42 U.S.C. 1773(b)(1)(A), and under Program regulations at 7 CFR 220.8(l), to allow school food authorities to offer non-congregate school meals to students fasting during Ramadan in school year (SY) 2024-2025.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is requesting prospective waivers for non-congregate meal service in school year (SY) 2024-25 for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP),  and the NSLP Seamless Summer Option (SSO).

Beginning in Summer 2024, New York State is implementing Summer EBT, a new federal program to help low-income households with children purchase food over the summer when school is out of session and children can no longer rely on access to free/reduced price school meals.

On April 25, 2024, FNS published the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (89 FR 31962, April 25, 2024). Among other provisions, this rule finalizes regulations that strengthen the School Meal Programs’ Buy American provision.

The following memo was released by USDA and can be found at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/f2s/geographic-preference-expansion.

On April 25, 2024, The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the final rule titled, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which is the next step in continuing the science-based improvement of school meals.

A full description of all provisions, implementation timelines and additional resources can be found here:
Updates to the School Nutrition Standards | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov)

The New York State Education Department, Child Nutrition Program Office is thrilled to announce that we have partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension, Harvest NY, to host the first ever NY Farm to School Summit with the theme:It takes a Village; Cultivating Community in Farm to School !

The inaugural Summit will take place in Syracuse, NY, at the OnCenter, this November 21st and 22^nd with optional pre-Summit field trips on November 20th.