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School Breakfast Program

Waiver Request Notification: Fasting During Ramadan

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.

Waiver Request Notification

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).

Providing School Meals for Students Observing Ramadan

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is now approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to offer waivers to allow school food authorities (SFAs) to serve non-congregate meals to students who celebrate Ramadan. During Ramadan, students fast or refrain from eating during typical daylight hours, including when school breakfast and/or lunch is served. These waivers allow SFAs to provide students who attend school and are fasting during Ramadan with non-congregate breakfast and lunch meals to consume after daylight hours.

These waivers may only be used:

Allowable Flexibilities for School Meal Programs Experiencing Milk Supply Shortages

Due to the unexpected nationwide shortage of paper milk cartons, many School Food Authorities (SFAs) are not able to obtain milk in half pints for their school meals programs. Although SFAs are expected to meet the fluid milk requirements to the greatest extent possible, supply chain disruptions, including disruptions that limit milk variety or affect serving size, are considered a temporary emergency condition. In these instances, SFAs are allowed to serve and claim meals during the emergency period by:

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  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;
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