USDA regulations and policy allow Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors that are “in good standing”, as determined by the State agency, certain allowances in the operation of the SFSP. According to federal regulations at 7 CFR 225.2, “good standing” means the status of a program operator that meets its Program responsibilities, is current with its financial obligations, and, if applicable, has fully implemented all corrective actions within the required period of time. 

The New York State Education Department (SED) will determine that a sponsor meets the federal “good standing” criteria when the sponsor has no serious management problems in its operation of the SFSP in the previous year. If new to the SFSP, SED will base the “good standing” status on having no serious management problems identified in its operation of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP), as applicable. New SFSP sponsors that do not participate in the NSLP or CACFP are not eligible for good standing status in the SFSP until after their first year of SFSP operations. 

Serious management problems that would result in a sponsor’s failure to be in “good standing” include, but are not limited to:  

1. Sponsor has been deemed seriously deficient in its operation of the 2023 SFSP. 

2. Failure to return to SED any advance payments which exceeded the amount earned for serving meals in the previous year.  

3. Failure to demonstrate that site review findings were fully corrected to SEDs satisfaction. 

4. Sponsor had a systemic finding(s) on its most recent SED site review(s). 

5. Sponsor had a systemic finding(s) at their most recent SED administrative review. 

6. Sponsor does not meet one or more of the VCA performance standards required in 7 CFR 225.6(d).  

7. Sponsor deemed not in “good standing” in another Child Nutrition Program. 

SED will notify sponsors who are not in good standing prior to the annual SFSP application/renewal process.