Summer 2024 Rural Non-congregate Feeding FAQ's
The purpose of this announcement is to highlight existing resources for program operators and to address frequently asked questions (FAQ) the CDE has received related to non-congregate feeding options.Announced on December 29, 2023, the Interim Final Rule: Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs
allows for summer meal operators to provide non-congregate meals at sites located in rural areas beginning in summer 2024.
The California Department of Education (CDE) recognizes that program operators have many questions about the implementation of this new program. The purpose of this announcement is to highlight existing resources for program operators and to address FAQs the CDE has received related to non-congregate feeding options.
Resources
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released two separate policy memos that provide additional guidance related to implementing non-congregate feeding in rural areas:
- USDA Policy Memo SFSP 07-2024, SP 13-2024: Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas Questions and Answers
- USDA Policy Memo SFSP 08-2024, SP 15-2024: Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas Questions and Answers # 2
Additional guidance documents are available on the USDA Non-Congregate Summer Meal Service
website.
In April 2024, the CDE also issued CDE Management Bulletin SNP-05 2024, SFSP 06-2024 Non-Congregate Meal Service Options in Rural Areas. This management bulletin consolidates existing guidance released by the USDA through the interim final rule and policy memorandum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sponsors provide both congregate and non-congregate meal services at the same site?
In limited circumstances, yes, a site may operate both congregate and non-congregate as defined in USDA question #8 in Policy Memo SFSP 07-2024, SP 13-2024
(PDF) and question #11 in USDA Policy Memo SFSP 08-2024, SP 15-2024
(PDF).
In their guidance, the USDA provides the following examples in which sites can operate as both congregate and non-congregate:
- A site that only offers breakfast through a congregate meal service may be approved to provide a lunch through non-congregate meal service. In these instances, meal services must not be concurrent, so, in this example, the non-congregate lunch meal service must be conducted after the congregate breakfast meal service has concluded.
- A site that serves lunch and breakfast three days a week may be approved to provide non-congregate meals for days with no congregate service, including weekends. Program operators must have a written program integrity plan and processes in place that ensure children are not receiving more meals than are allowable under federal regulations and that duplicate meals are not served.
- A site that operates in the month of July, may be approved to provide non-congregate meals for the period following their last congregate meal service day. Sponsors shifting from congregate to non-congregate meal service are required to submit an updated Children Nutrition and Information Payment System (CNIPS)
site application.
We are a school food authority (SFA) providing congregate breakfast and congregate lunch services to our summer school students. Can we also provide multiple days’ worth of non-congregate meals to families after our daily summer school lunch service?
No. In this example, the SFA would not be allowed to provide multiple days’ worth of meals after summer school lunch service because congregate meal service already exists at this feeding site. SFAs that are interested in providing multiple days’ worth of meals must identify rural sites in which no congregate meal service is available.
Can a summer meal site utilize multiple non-congregate meal options?
Yes. Program operators are encouraged to identify the non-congregate meal options that best fit the needs of their community. For example, a program operator may choose to provide multiple days’ worth of meals to families and allow for parent/guardians of eligible children to pick up meals.
How many days’ worth of meals can be provided through non-congregate feeding?
Program operators who utilize multiple day meal issuance may provide up to 10 calendar days' worth of meals during a single meal distribution period.
Program operators who utilize bulk meal distribution may provide up to 5 calendar days worth of bulk food items during a single meal distribution period.
What types of food items can be included as part of bulk meal distribution?
Title 7 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 225.16(i)(3)(iv) states that heating and warming of bulk food items must be minimal. Bulk food items should not require cooking in order to be consumed safely.
What data can be used to identify feeding sites as rural?
Program operators must utilize the USDA Rural Designation Map
to determine rurality.
Are program integrity plans recommended or required?
Federal regulations require that sponsors have procedures in place to protect program integrity. The CDE has developed a program integrity checklist and attestation statement that can be utilized to develop written program integrity procedures.
Operators of the Summer Food Service program may send questions related to non-congregate feeding to the CDE at SFSP@cde.ca.gov. Operators of the Seamless Summer Option may submit questions to SSFO@cde.ca.gov.