USDA Issues Flexibilities for Programs to Safely Reopen in the Fall

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a range of flexibilities to allow school meal programs and day care facilities to safely reopen and provide nutritious meals in the fall. A number of the waivers are active through June 30, 2022. The waivers range from addressing non-congregate feeding and parent/guardian pick-up to meal pattern flexibilities and reimbursement rates. The full list of waivers for the 21-22 SY can be found here and have been provided below directly from the USDA website. Contact your state for further local guidance.

• Nationwide Waiver to Allow the Seamless Summer Option
  FNS is allowing SFSP and Seamless Summer Option operations through June 30, 2021.

• Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program Reimbursement Rates
  FNS is allowing school food authorities to claims NSLP SSO meals and snacks at the SFSP reimbursement rates.

• Nationwide Waiver to Allow Non-Congregate Meal Service
  FNS is allowing meals to be served in non-group settings to support social distancing.

• Nationwide Waiver of Meal Times Requirements
  FNS is letting meals be served to kids outside traditional times to maximize flexibility for meal pick-up.

• Nationwide Waiver to Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals for Children
  FNS is allowing parents/guardians to pick-up meals and bring them home to their children.

• Nationwide Waiver to Allow Specific School Meal Pattern Flexibility
  FNS is giving states the flexibility to serve meals that do not meet specified meal pattern requirements when needed.

• Nationwide Waiver to Allow Specific Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
  FNS is giving states the flexibility to serve meals that do not meet specified meal pattern requirements when needed.

• Nationwide Waiver to Allow Offer Versus Serve Flexibility for Senior High Schools
  FNS has established a nationwide waiver to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus for school year 2021-22.

• Nationwide Waiver of Area Eligibility in the Afterschool Programs and for Family Day Care Home Providers
  FNS is allowing schools and at-risk afterschool care centers, regardless of their location, to claim all National School Lunch Program Afterschool Snack Service and Child and Adult Care Food Program At-risk Afterschool Program meals and snacks at the free rate.

• Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements in the School Meal Programs – Revised – EXTENSION 3
  FNS has provided flexibilities for certain monitoring and review requirements for schools meal programs.

• Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements for State Agencies in the Child and Adult Care Food Program – EXTENSION 3
  FNS has provided flexibilities for certain monitoring and review requirements for schools meal programs.

• Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements for Sponsors in the Child and Adult Care Food Program – EXTENSION
  FNS has provided flexibilities for certain monitoring and review requirements for sponsors participating in CACFP.