Summer Food Service Program

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is pleased to share the availability of the Turnip the Beet 2024 Nomination Packet. The Turnip the Beet Award recognizes outstanding summer meal program sponsors across the nation who work hard to offer high quality meals to children that are appetizing, appealing, and nutritious during the summer months. Please consider promoting the opportunity to apply for a Turnip the Beet award.

FNS is pleased to announce the release of the 2024 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Administration Guide. The guide reflects policy updates to the SFSP since its last release in 2016, including policy updates made through the interim final rulemaking, Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs (88 FR 90230).

The New York State Education Department, Office of Child Nutrition is thrilled to announce the rollout of a new online Learning Management System (LMS)! Within the next few days, all current Summer Food Service Program sponsor’s Child Nutrition Management System designated administrators and users will be sent an email granting access to this new system. For anyone that does not receive an email, but would like to access the online trainings, please complete the request form posted on our website. 

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Sponsors that operated the SFSP in 2023 must complete the SFSP Renewal on the Child Nutrition Management System (CNMS). The renewal is now available, and it is expected that all experienced sponsors will log in and submit the renewal on-line and send any additional required information via email to their program representative. Your program representative is available to assist you with this process. 

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328) amended section 13 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, 42 USC 1761, to include the authorization of a permanent, rural non-congregate meal service through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). On December 29, 2023, the interim final rule, Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs(link is external), codified the permanent rural non-congregate summer meal service for the SFSP.

FNS has issued a memorandum, which is the second set of questions and answers on the rural non-congregate summer meals option established through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (the Act) (P.L. 117-328), and codified through the interim final rulemaking (IFR), Implementing Provisions from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023: Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs (88 FR 90230).

USDA regulations and policy allow Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors that are “in good standing”, as determined by the State agency, certain allowances in the operation of the SFSP. According to federal regulations at 7 CFR 225.2, “good standing” means the status of a program operator that meets its Program responsibilities, is current with its financial obligations, and, if applicable, has fully implemented all corrective actions within the required period of time. 

NYSED seeks to waive the following requirement for new and experienced public entities in good standing: 7 CFR 225.6(e)(1)(i), 7 CFR 225.6(e)(1)(ii), 7 CFR 225.6 (e)(2), 7 CFR 225.6 (e)(3): The State Agency must require the submission of a management plan to determine compliance with performance standards established for new sponsors and experienced public entity sponsors in good standing.

This waiver was not approved by USDA. New and experienced public entities in good standing are required to submit management plans as part of the 2024 SFSP application process.  

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has received State-level waiver authority from the United States Department of Agriculture for Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors to provide non-congregate meal service at certain Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) outdoor meal sites on days when the area is experiencing excessive heat.  The flexibility will allow Program operators to safely provide meals to Program participants during times of excessive heat. 

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has received State-level waiver authority from the United States Department of Agriculture for non-school food authority Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors to utilize Offer versus Serve (OVS) during the 2023 SFSP. OVS allows children to decline some of the foods offered in a reimbursable breakfast, lunch, or supper.