National School Lunch Program
Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards for SFAs
Ending of KKFA Flexibilities
On June 25th, 2022, President Biden signed the Keep Kids Fed Act, which extended USDA authority to waive certain requirements for Child Nutrition Programs to address COVID-19. This gave USDA extra resources to continue serving participants of the Child Nutrition Programs through the SY 2022-2023. These flexibilities (along with some waivers that were offered using USDA’s 12(l) National School Lunch Act waiver authority) are set to expire on June 30th, 2023. These flexibilities allowed for children and adult participants to continue to be fed in a safe manner during the pandemic.
CEP State Subsidy Q&As
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
1. Who can participate in CEP?
To participate in CEP, at least 25% of enrolled students must be certified for free meals without an application. An entire School Food Authority (SFA), individual school building/Recipient Agency (RA), or group of RAs within an SFA can participate in CEP. SFAs should determine how to implement CEP to maximize the benefits to the most students.
SCA Fourth Round Announcement
The following is an advance notification from USDA for an additional round of Supply Chain Assistance (SCA) Funds. This memo will be replaced with the formal announcement when it is released by USDA.
Reminder: NSLP Sodium Target 1A Transitional Standard Effective July 1, 2023
State agencies and school meal program operators are reminded that Sodium Target 1A, as promulgated by the Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains and Sodium - Final Rule, goes into effect on July 1, 2023, in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) only. There will be no change to sodium limits for breakfasts served through the School Breakfast Program (SBP).
Approved State-level Waiver Request
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has received State-level waiver authority from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from the requirements in Section 11(a)(1)(F)(x)(I) of the NSLA, 42 U.S.C. 1759a and FNS regulations at 7 CFR 245.9(f)(4)(i) to allow school food authorities to apply to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision for the 2023-2024 school year until August 31, 2023.
SY 23-24 Program Operations
*This is a consolidated list of information available on the website regarding program operations for school year 2023-2024 Program operations. Recent updates will be noted by the asterisk (*).
PLE Tool and Guidance
The Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) Tool and guidance for school year 2024-2025 is now available here.
Comments from the Listening Sessions for the CNP: Revision to Meal Patterns Proposed Rule
The New York State Education Department (SED), Office of Child Nutrition Program Administration hosted two listening sessions on March 9th and 16th of 2023 to hear from New York State school food professionals on the potential impact of the “Child Nutrition Programs: Revision to Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020 Dietary Guideline for Americans” federal proposed rule.
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.
