USDA Nationwide Waiver Questions and Answers #3 - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education)

USDA Nationwide Waiver Questions and Answers #3 - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education)

USDA Nationwide Waiver Questions and Answers #3

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Main Web Page

On November 2, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released Policy Memorandum SP 04-2021, CACFP 03-2021, SFSP 03-2021. This Policy Memorandum  includes questions and answers intended to provide clarification to State agencies and program operators of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

Questions and Answers

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SFSP and SSO

1. Can a School Food Authority (SFA) operating an open SFSP/SSO site with non-congregate meal service serve meals to children not enrolled in the school, such as preschoolers?

2. For SFSP or SSO sites that will be able to serve congregate meals to a limited number of participants under COVID-19 restrictions, will they also be able to serve non-congregate meals to the remainder of participants?

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

3. For CACFP At-risk Afterschool Programs and NSLP Afterschool Snacks, if the educational or enrichment activity is electronic and a child does not have access to the required electronic device, is the activity still considered available to all?

4. May CACFP at-risk centers providing extended care during the day (both school hours and afterschool hours) claim reimbursement for a breakfast and/or lunch served in addition to the one meal and one snack allowed for at-risk?

5. Can current tier II family day care homes be moved to tier I with one month’s worth of income during COVID-19 due to lower attendance or income, even if this does not reflect the yearly average? Can a tier I home’s eligibility to claim their own child be re-determined during this time based on provider’s income from the past month?

6. As child care centers continue to open, they may have limited schedules and hours of operation. Can centers provide a combination of congregate and non-congregate meals?

School Meal Programs

7. What is the verification deadline for School Year (SY) 2020–2021?

8. May schools that were planning to conduct a Provision 2 base year during SY 2020–2021 and then elected to operate SFSP/SSO calculate their NSLP/SBP claiming percentages and still use SY 2020-2021 as their Provision 2 Base Year?

9. How will State agencies calculate eligibility for severe need breakfast and the extra 2 cent NSLP reimbursements?

10. Can residential child care institutions (RCCIs) operate SFSP/SSO under the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option Operations through School Year 2020–2021?

11. If an LEA is not currently providing meals through the NSLP is it still required to continue direct certification activities?

For more comprehensive COVID-19 Guidance, please visit the COVID-19 Guidance in the Child Nutrition Programs web page.

Contact Information

For any questions regarding these waivers, please contact your respective program’s County Specialist. The County Specialist for each program can be found in the following Form IDs in the CNIPS Download Forms section:

• SFSP—Form ID SFSP 01.
• NSLP, SBP, and SSO—Form ID Caseload.
• CACFP—Form ID CACFP 01

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609

USDA Nationwide Waiver Questions and Answers #3 - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education)