Summer Food Service Program

Beginning in the 2023 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), program sponsors are no longer allowed to use visual observation to obtain participant race and ethnicity data and are required to collect this data using an alternative method. The following guidance is provided to aid program sponsors in capturing this data.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328), established a permanent non-congregate meal service option for rural areas with no congregate meal service available. (1) This memorandum provides guidance on the administration and operation of non-congregate meal service in rural areas during summer 2023 for the Summer Food Service Program and National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option. (2) This memorandum applies to State agencies administering, and local organizations operating, the Summer Food Service Program and National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option.

On September 19, 2022, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published the Final Rule: Streamlining Program Requirements and Improving Integrity in the SFSP. The rule amended Summer Food Service (SFSP) regulations to strengthen program integrity by clarifying, simplifying, and streamlining program administration to facilitate compliance with program requirements.

The New York State Education Department (SED), Office of Child Nutrition Program Administration, will host a webinar to provide information on the administration and operation of non-congregate meal service in rural areas during summer 2023. SED will discuss the allowance for and conditions when non-congregate meals can be provided to children from low-income rural areas with no access to congregate meals.

The Turnip the Beet Award recognizes outstanding summer meal program sponsors across the nation who work hard to offer high quality meals to children that are appetizing, appealing, and nutritious during the summer months.  Being selected as a winner brings a sense of pride and validation to your program and your community.

For more information on the criteria and how to apply go to: https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/turnip-the-beet.

The New York State Education Department (SED), Office of Child Nutrition Program Administration, will host multiple training sessions to provide guidance on the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for Summer Food Service Program sponsors and potential new sponsors.  All sponsors new to the SFSP must attend the two-day webinar.  Experienced sponsors, or sponsors that operated in 2022, may register for an in-person session or the webinar on March 27, 2023.  The same information will be presented for experienced sponsors at the in-person session and webinar.  The in-person sess

The New York State Education Department is accepting applications for the 2023 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Last year, 470 sponsoring organizations served meals at more than 2,500 locations across the state to young people in need.

The SFSP rates below are effective as of January 1, 2023.