Thursday, February 1, 2024
Announcements from the WI DPI School Nutrition Team (SNT)
Updates from the DPI School Nutrition Team
Feeding Children in Summer 2024
Summer is frequently the most challenging time of the year for children at risk of food insecurity when they no longer have access to daily school meals. School food authorities (SFAs) are encouraged to consider offering one of the following meal service programs that would allow for the continuation of healthy school meals to be provided during the summer months.
For further details, please review the Comparison of Summer Meal Programs chart.
Option 1: Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
- Allows SFAs to provide free meals to all children 18 and under, at eligible sites (using free/reduced or census data) that are approved by DPI.
- Provides the higher SFSP Reimbursement Rates all summer
- Provides an additional shipment of SFSP USDA Foods in June
- Allows for the use of the simplified SFSP Meal Pattern
- Allows for agencies to provide Non-congregate Meals in Rural Areas when congregate sites are not operating.
- Provides free Outreach Materials to promote your Program (posters, door hangers, banners, lawn signs, etc.).
Steps to Operate the SFSP in Summer 2024:
- Complete the New Agency Information Form - SFAs. This short ‘interest’ form MUST be completed in order for DPI to set-up the SFSP application for your agency and provide information on next steps.
- For further details please send an email to sfsp@dpi.wi.gov and a member of the SFSP Team will contact you.
Option 2: Seamless Summer Option (SSO)
- Allows SFAs to provide free meals to all children 18 and under, at eligible sites (using free/reduced or census data) that are approved by DPI (same as the SFSP).
- Meals are reimbursed at the National School Lunch (NSL), School Breakfast (SBP), and Afterschool Snack (ASP) Program free rates, which are less than the SFSP rates.
- Meals must follow the NSLP, SBP, and ASP meal pattern requirements.
- Allows for SFA’s to provide non-congregate meals in rural areas when congregate sites are not operating, with DPI prior approval.
The SSO Application, which will be available in early March, is required to be submitted by May 3, 2024. Approval is required prior to starting the program. Late applications will not be accepted.
More information is available on the SSO Webpage. Any SFA considering the SSO, should contact the SSO Specialists at SSO@dpi.wi.gov to discuss further and request an application.
Option 3: National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP)
- Allows SFAs to provide meals to students enrolled in academic summer school. This option does not allow for providing meals to other children in the community, nor does it allow for meal service when school is not in session.
- Schools do not have be located within an area that qualifies using free/reduced or census data.
- Students are counted and claimed based on individual student name and eligibility. CEP schools continue to provide meals free meals to students and are reimbursed at the established claiming percentage.
- Meals must meet the NSLP, SBP, and ASP meal pattern requirements.
- Meals are reimbursed at the NSLP, SBP, and ASP free, reduced price, and paid rates.
Serving Summer Meals in School-Based Childcare Centers
The ability to provide meals to children enrolled in a school-based childcare center over the summer varies based on the program being operated. Please review School Nutrition Bulletin 2122-41 (April 26, 2022 – Updated Guidance for School-Based Childcare Centers) for more information.
Summer-EBT
Although the summer meal programs mentioned above are an important source of nutrition for many children, program access remains a challenge. To expand the reach of summer meal programs, Summer EBT has been established as a permanent USDA program that aims to reduce summer hunger by providing families with additional FoodShare benefits to feed their children when school is not in session. In general, children who meet the free and reduced price meal requirements are eligible for Summer EBT. Wisconsin has elected to participate in Summer EBT beginning in Summer 2024. This is a collaborative effort between the WI Departments of Public Instruction (DPI) and Health Services (DHS). More information coming soon.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Jill K. Underly, PhD, State Superintendent
125 S Webster Street
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-3390 • (800) 441-4563