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 School Nutrition Program (SNP), 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 seeking approval from the USDA to establish a risk-based approach for the Resource Management portion of the Administrative Review.
   
   
2. The CDE is requesting a waiver to provide non-congregate meal service on non-school days in the NSLP and SBP to ensure continued access to healthy meals while CalFresh benefits are reduced or delayed. Under these circumstances, the following flexibilities are being requested: non-congregate meal service, meal service during school days, meal service times, and offer versus serve.
   
   
3. The CDE is requesting a waiver to allow program operators to serve non-congregate meals under the SSO and SFSP during school breaks lasting less than 15 operational days to ensure continued access to healthy meals while CalFresh benefits are reduced or delayed. Under these circumstances, the following flexibilities are being requested: non-congregate meals service, meal service times, parent and guardian pick-up, meal service at school sites, and service of meals during school breaks less than 15 days.
   
   
4. The CDE is submitting a waiver on behalf of Manteca Unified School District to allow the use of nonprofit school food service funds for the purchase of a warehouse.