Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas Q&A #2

On March 27, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued policy memorandum SFSP 08-2024, SP 15-2024: Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas Questions and Answers #2.

This USDA policy memo provides additional guidance on non-congregate meal service in rural areas in the following topics: sponsor, site, and participant, eligibility; rural designations; state agency approval of non-congregate meal service; conditional non-congregate sites; parent or guardian meal pick-up; and monitoring requirements.

The complete policy can be viewed on the USDA Summer Meal Service web page .

A California Department of Education management bulletin on this topic is forthcoming.

Contact Information

If you have questions regarding this subject, please reach out to the Summer Nutrition Programs and Grants Unit by email at SFSP@cde.ca.gov.

Questions: Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609

Last Reviewed: Thursday, April 18, 2024

Related Content

Seamless Summer Option (SSO)
Information about the federal Seamless Summer Option opportunity that allows public schools to combine features of the School Nutrition Programs and the Summer Food Service Program along with reduced paperwork requirements.
Summer Food Service Program Information
Administrative and operational information and guidance for organizations that participate in the program.
Summer Meal Programs
Federal meal programs for children from low-income areas during vacation and off-track periods.

Trending in Nutrition

Recently Posted in Nutrition

SNP AR 24-25 Workload (added 26-Jun-2024)
This is a listing of School Nutrition Program (SNP) Operators scheduled for an administrative review (AR) in School Year 2024–25.
Farm to Summer Celebration Week 2024 Post Survey (added 26-Jun-2024)
We want to thank all of the F2Summer Celebration Week participants and encourage participants to complete the post survey to receive recognition.
Governor Newsom Takes Action for Storm Support (added 26-Jun-2024)
Governor Newsom takes action to support communities recovering from storms.
May 28, 2024 Tuesday at 2 Town Hall Resource (added 25-Jun-2024)
The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) hosted the monthly Tuesday @ 2 School Nutrition Town Hall webinar May 28, 2024.
FNS 709-5, Rev. 4: Shipment & Receipt of USDA Food (added 21-Jun-2024)
This management bulletin outlines the updates to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service Instruction 709-5, Revision 4: Shipment and Receipt of USDA Foods.

Update to Buy American Provision (added 21-Jun-2024)
Rule finalizes regulations that strengthen the Buy American provision in the School Nutrition Programs. The Buy American provision requires school food authorities to purchase, to the maximum extent practicable, domestic commodities or products.
Summer Meal Excess Heat & Poor Air Quality Waiver (added 17-Jun-2024)
The USDA has approved the use of two statewide waivers requested by the CDE for summer meal program operators in good standing to provide meals in a non-congregate setting due to excessive heat and/or poor air quality.
Webinar-Expanded Geographic Preference (added 10-Jun-2024)
This web page provides registration information on the webinar titled Partners Webinar on the Expanded Geographic Preference Option in the Final Rule, provided by the USDA’s Farm to School Team.
South American Meat Inc. Recalls Frozen Raw Beef (added 06-Jun-2024)
South American Meat Inc., recalled approximately 20,111 pounds of various eligible frozen raw beef products that were not presented to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service for import reinspection.
Farm to Summer Celebration Week 2024- Reminder (added 04-Jun-2024)
The F2Summer Celebration Week is a recognition program for summer meal program operators that complete three elements: 1) Taste, 2) Teach, and 3) Connect during the designated week of June 17–21, 2024.