You are here

School Nutrition Bulletin 2021-46: Feeding Children in Summer 2021

Monday, May 17, 2021

Announcements from the WI DPI School Nutrition Team (SNT)

 

Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team (SNT)

 

Feeding Children in Summer 2021

As summer plans take shape, many students face food insecurity. The healthy meals your school has offered during the school year may no longer be available to them. Schools and school districts providing academic summer school and/or summer enrichment activities for children are encouraged to consider offering one of the three different meal service programs available that would allow for the continuation of healthy school meals to be provided during the summer months.  The following information is only for summer 2021 feeding, more information about the upcoming 2021-22 school year will be released over the coming weeks.
 
This Summer Program Comparison Chart shows the differences between each of the programs available to feed children during the summer months. To ensure appropriate safety measures are met, USDA has extended the Non-congregate Feeding, Parent and Guardian Pick-up, and Meal Service Time COVID-19 Waivers for all programs.
 
Meal Service Programs Available for Summer 2021

1. National School Lunch (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP) and/or Afterschool Snack Program (ASP):

This option allows you to extend the NSLP Online Contract and continue to feed your students attending summer school under the NSLP, SBP and/or ASP programs, as they “normally” operate.
  • All program requirements remain the same; students are counted and claimed based on individual student name and eligibility.
  • These sites cannot operate as open site(s); only enrolled students are eligible.
  • The reimbursement is based on the NSLP, SBP and/or ASP Reimbursement Rates for SY 2021-22.
  • All summer program operating dates must be included on the applicable NSLP online contract.

2. Seamless Summer Option (SSO)

This option allows SFAs to provide meals at no charge to all children attending summer school as well as other children, age 18 and under, in the community.
  • All schools qualify under the COVID-19 waivers.
  • All NSLP, SBP, and/or ASP requirements still apply, including the applicable meal patterns.
  • The maximum number of meals that may be offered under the SSO is two meals, or one meal and one snack, per child, per day, in any combination except lunch and supper.
  • SFAs will claim all SSO meals and/or snacks at the higher Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) reimbursement rates beginning July 1, 2021. We are awaiting guidance from USDA on what this reimbursement rate will be.
  • All summer program operating dates also need to be included on the applicable NSLP Online Contract for claiming purposes.
  • More information is available on the SSO Webpage.
To elect SSO for Summer 2021, please complete the Summer 2021 SSO Application.
 
 
This option allows SFAs to provide meals at no charge to all enrolled children, including those who may be attending summer school, as well as other children, age 18 and under, in the community.
  • If your SFA has already applied to participate in the SFSP during summer 2021, no further action is required.
  • Follows the SFSP program requirements and meal pattern.
  • More information on SFSP can be found on the SFSP Webpage.
  • SFAs currently operating the SSO would be required to submit an SFSP application and attend training if wishing to operate the SFSP instead of the SSO this summer. Given the federal application deadline is June 15th, switching to the SFSP may no longer be feasible for this summer.
  • Please contact Amy Kolano at amy.kolano@dpi.wi.gov or call (608) 266-7124 if you have further questions.
 
Please contact the SNT at dpifns@dpi.wi.gov or 608-267-9228 for questions regarding summer options for your SFA.
 
----------------------------------------------------------
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
 
This is a communication from the WI Department of Public Instruction, School Nutrition Team.
You can contact the School Nutrition Team at dpifns@dpi.wi.gov. To subscribe to schoolmealsnews, please send an email to dpifns@dpi.wi.gov. dpi.wi.gov/school-nutrition #WISchoolMealsRock