U.S. Department of Agriculture Waiver Request

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General Information

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service established a waiver request protocol for certain Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) statutory or regulatory requirements. The CNPs include the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the NSLP Seamless Summer Option (SSO), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), the Afterschool Meal Supplement, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), and the Special Milk Program.

For more information, please see the USDA Policy Memorandum SP 15-2018, CACFP 12-2018, SFSP 05-2018 Child Nutrition Program Waiver Request Guidance and Protocol Revised (PDF).

Current Waiver Requests for the Nutrition Services Division

1. The California Department of Education (CDE) is requesting non-congregate feeding, meal time flexibility and offer versus serve waivers for School Nutrition Program operators to provide two meals to children observing Ramadan during the 2024-25 school year.
   
   
2. The CDE in partnership with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), is requesting to waive the August 15th deadline for the Interim Plan of Operations and Management. The CDE and CDSS will submit the Interim Plan of Operations and Management by September 15, 2024.
   
   
3. The CDE, in partnership with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), is requesting to waive the January 1, 2025, compliance date for the Coordinated Services Plan (CSP) for the Summer Electronics Benefits Transfer for Children Program (Summer EBT) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and defer it through December 1, 2025.
   
   
4. The CDE, in partnership with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), is requesting waivers for SUN Bucks/Summer EBT 2025 regarding flexibilities for SUN Bucks application, eligibility, verifications, hearing and appeals process.
   
   
5. The CDE is requesting a waiver on behalf of School Nutrition Program (SNP) operators in good standing who operate the NSLP and the SBP. The waiver would extend the current five-year SNP administrative review cycle to a six-year cycle. The waiver would become effective July 1, 2025.