Waivers Available for Program Operators

SFSP/SSO Program operators may elect this waiver to waive specific meal pattern requirements required by either the SFSP or SSO. 

Allows targeted, justified flexibilities in order to support access to nutritious meals.

With the election of the Area Eligibility Waiver and the Waiver to Allow Area Eligibility for Closed Enrolled Sites, as applicable, SFAs and SFSP sponsors may provide meals at no charge in areas where poor economic conditions have not been established if the SFA/SFSP sponsor can assure and demonstrate a plan to target benefits to children in need.

These flexibilities can be utilized at locations open to all children in the community (open sites) and at locations that limit participation to only enrolled children (closed enrolled sites).

A closed enrolled site is a site that provides meals to only enrolled children.

To establish eligibility in the SFSP/SSO as a closed enrolled site, operators are required to collect income eligibility applications to determine that 50 percent of the children are eligible for free or reduced price meals. 

By electing this waiver, SFSP/SSO operators that wish to operate a closed enrolled site will not be required to collect free and reduced applications to demonstrate eligibility and instead may use census data to demonstrate eligibility.

Additionally, with the election of the Area Eligibility Waiver and the Waiver to Allow Area Eligibility for Closed Enrolled Sites, as applicable, SFAs and SFSP sponsors may provide meals at no charge in areas where poor economic conditions have not been established if the SFA/SFSP sponsor can assure and demonstrate a plan to target benefits to children in need.

Waives the requirement that meals are served directly to eligible children.

Allows parents/guardians to pick up meals for their children without the child being present.

Operators must have a plan in place to maintain accountability and program integrity that includes: ensuring that meals are distributed only to parents or guardians of eligible children, and that duplicate meals are not distributed to any child.

Waives the requirement for meals to be served and consumed by participants at congregate meal sites and allows for meals to be consumed off-site.

Allows for grab and go meals and meal delivery.

This waiver must be elected if offering “grab and go" or if serving non-unitized meals and/or food items in bulk quantities.

Waives meal service time requirements and allows meals to be served outside of standard meal times.

Allows multiple meals to be served at the same time.

Program operators that serve two meals together at the same time for “grab and go” must elect this waiver.

Waives the requirement for meals to be served and consumed by participants at congregate meal sites and allows for meals to be consumed off-site.

Allows for grab and go meals and meal delivery.

This waiver must be elected if offering “grab and go" or if serving non-unitized meals and/or food items in bulk quantities.

Waiver to allow meal service time flexibility in Child Nutrition Programs.

Waives the requirement to serve breakfast at the beginning of the school day and lunch between the hours of 10am and 2 pm. 

Program operators that serve two meals together at the same time for “grab and go” must elect this waiver.

NSLP/SBP Program operators may elect this waiver to waive specific meal pattern requirements required by the NSLP/SBP. 

Allows targeted, justified flexibilities in order to support access to nutritious meals. Program operators are still required to meet nutrition standards to the greatest extent possible. 

Waives the requirement for senior high schools (as defined by SED) to participate in Offer Versus Serve during the 2020-2021 School Year.

Waiver enables SFAs to offer complete meals for service in the classroom or for delivery or pick up to students doing distance learning.

Waives the requirement that meals are served directly to eligible children.

Allows parents/guardians to pick up meals for their children without the child being present.

SFA’s must have a plan in place to maintain accountability and program integrity that includes: ensuring that meals are distributed only to parents or guardians of eligible children, and that duplicate meals are not distributed to any child.