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THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

Office of P-20 Education Policy
Child Nutrition Program Administration
89 Washington Avenue, Room 375 EBA, Albany, NY 12234
Phone: (518) 473-8781 Fax: (518) 473-0018
To: 
Summer Food Service Program Operators
From: 
Child Nutrition Program Administration
Date: 
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Subject: 
Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas: Questions and Answers #3

USDA released a third set of questions and answers on the rural non-congregate summer meals option established through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (the Act) (PL 117-328), and codified through the interim final rule (IFR), Implementing Provisions from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023: Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs (88 FR 90230). The Act authorized permanent, non-congregate meal service through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and National School Lunch Program’s (NSLP) Seamless Summer Option (SSO) for rural areas with no congregate meal service.

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide State agencies and program operators with additional clarification on rural non-congregate requirements and guidance to enhance program integrity. The first memorandum in this series, SFSP 07-2024, SP 13-2024, Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas Questions and Answers, February 21, 2024, updates earlier guidance originally issued for Summer 2023 operations and ensures consistency with the provisions of the IFR. The second memorandum in this series, SFSP 08-2024, SP 15-2024, Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas Questions and Answers #2, March 27, 2024, addresses additional implementation topics based on feedback received by State agencies and program stakeholders. The following operational topics are addressed in this guidance:

  • Meal Service and Meal Quality;
  • Civil Rights Requirements;
  • Monitoring and Program Integrity; and
  • General/Miscellaneous.

Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas: Questions and Answers #3

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  1. mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
  3. email:
    Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Click here for Nondiscrimination Statement translations.

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