ADMINISTRATIVE

TO:

Division Superintendents

FROM:

Jo Lynne DeMary

Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT:

Availability of School Nutrition Programs during the Summer

School-sponsored summer feeding programs help children maintain their nutritional status and their readiness to learn. The U. S. Department of Agricultures new Undersecretary of Food and Nutrition, Eric Bost, recognizes the importance of feeding children throughout the summer and is committed to increasing the number of children who receive nutritious summer meals. There are three mechanisms for school divisions to provide summer meals and receive federal reimbursement: (1) continuation of the National School Lunch (NSLP) and Breakfast programs (SBP) already in place in schools, (2) the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sponsored Summer Food Service Program (SFSP); or (3) Seamless Summer Feeding Waiver that combines features of NSLP/SBP and SFSP.

OPTION 1:

National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs administered by the Virginia Department of Educations, Office of School Nutrition Programs (SNP). No claim may be made for any summer school program that does not have prior approval from DOEs School Nutrition Programs Office.

a) School divisions that offer summer educational programs (summer school) for students may provide summer school lunch, breakfast, and/or afterschool snacks as a continuation of the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Afterschool Snack Programs. School divisions that continue to offer these programs may receive federal reimbursement through the Virginia Department of Education. To participate in summer NSLP and/or SBP an application form must be completed.

b) Schools that do not participate in the School Breakfast or Afterschool Snack Programs during the regular school year can choose to offer a summer school breakfast or snack program by completing the program application(s).

c) All meals and/or snacks served must meet federal and state regulations and requirements governing the programs.

d) Claims for reimbursement for Summer National School Lunch Programs (SNSLP), Summer School Breakfast Programs (SSBP), and Summer Afterschool Snack Programs are submitted through the established electronic claim system.

e) Each school division must activate the Summer National School Lunch Program (SNSLP), Summer School Breakfast Program (SSBP), and Summer Afterschool Snack Program (SASP), as appropriate, in its local electronic claims software for each individual School Nutrition Program (SNP) Unit prior to processing a claim for summer school feeding.

f) Reimbursement will be paid according to students eligibility for free, reduced price, or full price meals/snacks and the established rate of reimbursement for each program.

g) Students who were approved for free or reduced price meals during the 2001-2002 school year may continue their same eligibility benefits for the summer school programs.

h) Claims for reimbursements must be submitted by the fifteenth of the month following the claim month. The meals served in June for summer school programs cannot be added to the meals served in June for the regular school year programs. They must be reported under the appropriate summer meal programs as identified in (d) above. Only one claim for June reimbursement may be submitted, and it should include all active programs, NSLP, SBP, SNSLP, SSBP, as applicable.

i) Snacks served during the school day are not eligible for reimbursement. School nutrition funds cannot be used to provide mid-morning or afternoon snacks. School divisions may choose to provide funding for such snacks from other sources.

j) School divisions that offer educational or enrichment programs after the regularly scheduled summer school day may participate in a Summer Afterschool Snack Program (SASP) and receive federal reimbursement. The eligibility criteria for participation in the Summer Afterschool Snack Program must be met as outlined in Regulatory Superintendents Memo #2, dated April 2, 1999.

To participate in the Summer National School Lunch Program (SNSLP), Summer School Breakfast Program (SSBP), and/or the Summer Afterschool Snack Program (SASP), please complete the attached forms (Attachments A & B) and return them to the Department of Education, School Nutrition Programs, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120, by June 7, 2002.

OPTION 2:

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)-- The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mid-Atlantic Regional Office of the Food and Nutrition Service located in New Jersey, administers the SFSP in Virginia. While the regional office is located in New Jersey, it maintains several field offices that work locally with the SFSP in Virginia.

a) SFSP provides federal reimbursement and free nutritious meals to all children in eligible areas during school vacations.

b) School divisions can sponsor the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) to provide nutritious healthy meals to children in areas where there is an economic need. The SFSP would be appropriate if a school division operates an enrichment program and does not participate in the Summer National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs as described above.

c) This program does not require an educational program and can be a recreation activity or day camp.

d) Federal reimbursement is provided for both the cost of the meals and administration of the program. All meals are provided free to all children.

e) More information (including reimbursement rates) can be obtained on the Internet at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer.

For additional information about the Summer Food Service Program sponsored by USDA or for an application, please contact Mr. Alan Crane, USDA, at (609) 259-5134 or write Attention: Summer Food Service Program, USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, Mercer Corporate Park, 300 Corporate Boulevard, Robbinsville, NJ 08691-1598.

OPTION 3:

New SFSP/NSLP waiver called the Seamless Summer Feeding Waiver (SSFW)

USDA is making available a waiver that would permit school divisions to operate the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in a similar fashion to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) when school is in session. This option is not the same as Option 1. This Option #3 is a waiver of certain portions of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Regulation (7 CFR 225) and the NSLP Regulations (7 CFR 210). The Department of Education is now permitted to offer school food authorities (SFAs) the opportunity to participate in this waiver to operate a summer feeding program that would be a seamless transition from the NSLP/SBP into the summer months. This option has very specific criteria in order for the waiver to be granted.

a) Enclosed are two side-by-side comparison charts. (Attachment C and D) Attachment C compares NSLP/SBP to the Seamless Summer Feeding Waiver, and Attachment D compares SFSP to SSFW. This waiver may offer an incentive to your schools to provide low-income children nutritious meals during the summer months.

b) Review the comparison chart. If you need additional information or are interested in becoming a sponsor, please complete the enclosed form (Attachment E) and return it to the Department of Education, School Nutrition Programs, P. O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120. Information that is more detailed and an application for the waiver will be provided.

Further information or questions regarding this memo should be directed to the School Nutrition Programs Specialist assigned to your division or to Catherine Digilio Grimes, director of School Nutrition Programs, at (804) 225-2074.

JLD/CDG/idl

Attachments

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/adm028a.pdf

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/adm028b.pdf

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/adm028c.pdf

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/adm028d.pdf

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/adm028e.pdf

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/adm028a.doc

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/adm028b.doc

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/adm028c.doc

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/adm028d.doc

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/adm028e.doc