The United States Department of Agriculture has released the following sets of Questions and Answers related to Child Nutrition Programs operations during COVID-19 school closures: 

This recorded webinar is now posted in the Webinar Library (click here).

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) urges School Food Authorities and Summer Food Service Program Sponsors currently operating the Seamless Summer Option of the National School Lunch Program or the Summer Food Service Program, hereafter referred to as Program operators, to apply for any applicable temporary waiver established by the United States Department of Agriculture to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID–19).

The Child Nutrition Program Office reminds all Child Nutrition Program operators of the flexibilities provided by Title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 200.320(f)(2), noncompetitive procurements resulting from a public emergency.  A noncompetitive proposal is a procurement method used when competition is deemed inadequate or impossible due to public exigency or emergency.

School Food Authorities (SFA) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors may provide reimbursable meals to low-income children during school closures related to COVID-19. Upon Child Nutrition’s approval of their application, schools may provide up to two meals per day per child through the SFSP or the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) of the NSLP.  Meals may be provided and consumed at schools or other locations in the community or provided for consumption at home.

The New York State Education Department (SED) has requested a waiver from USDA for regulations 7 CFR 210.7, 220.9 and 225.9(d)(7) to allow School Food Authorities and Summer Food Service Program Sponsors additional reimbursement for costs necessary to provide meals and meal supplements with appropriate safety measures to help minimize potential exposure to COVID-19 while schools are closed.

The waiver has not been approved at this time. Further guidance will be made available upon approval.

School food authorities (SFAs) participating in the School Breakfast Program (SBP) may continue to credit any vegetable offered, including potatoes and other starchy vegetables, in place of fruit without including vegetables from other subgroups in the weekly menus, through June 30, 2021. This flexibility is based on Section 749 of Division B of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-94) (the Appropriations Act), enacted on December 20, 2019. It is a continuation of the flexibility originally offered under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L.

Local education agencies (LEAs) participating in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program were required to develop a local school wellness policy and have this policy in place by July 1, 2017. An assessment of this policy must be conducted at a minimum of once every three years. Therefore, the first triennial assessment must be completed by June 30, 2020.

School Breakfast Day

September 25, 2019

Now Available through USDA! 

Offer versus Serve (OVS) National School Lunch Program Posters and Lunch and Breakfast OVS Tip sheets!  

The Offer versus Serve (OVS) Lunch Posters for elementary, middle and high school students may be used as signage to instruct students to select a reimbursable meal under OVS.  The OVS tip sheets are intended for use by school foodservice staff to enhance their understanding of OVS requirements at breakfast and lunch.