SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Education's (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) has announced that the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which provides reimbursement to agencies that serve summer meals to children 18 years of age and younger, will have application packets available at the end of February.

The SFSP targets areas where at least 50 percent of the children served are eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals. The program can run whenever schools in the community are on summer vacation for at least 15 continuous school days or when year-round schools are in an off-track cycle. In addition, eligible agencies may now serve snacks after school to children who are in some type of an after-school program.

Agencies eligible to be a SFSP sponsor include schools, camps, Indian tribal governments, municipal, state, county, or local governments, and private nonprofit agencies.

Meals can be prepared by the participating agency or obtained from a public or commercial food vendor or a school food service department. All meals must meet the United States Department of Agriculture's minimum meal patterns, which ensure that children receive the nutrients they need to be better prepared when returning to school. Operational and administrative records must be maintained to claim reimbursement.

The current meal reimbursement rates are: $1.42 for breakfast; $2.48 for lunch or dinner; and $0.58 for snacks. Administrative reimbursement is also available. Agencies that prepare meal or operate sites located in rural areas can receive a higher reimbursement rate.

Agencies interested in becoming a SFSP sponsor must attend one of NSD's training workshops held in late spring. Proposed training dates and locations will be announced online by the end of February.

Food service management companies must register with NSD before entering into a vending contract with a SFSP sponsor. Interested companies are invited to attend one of the training sessions that will provide information that will assist vendors in meeting SFSP meal pattern, production records, menu planning, and contract requirements.

To obtain training information, SFSP applications, or vendor registration forms, log onto the CDE Web site at Summer Food Service or contact Melissa Garza at 800-952-5609 or 916-322-5885 or by e-mail at mgarza@cde.ca.gov.

Program benefits are available to all children without regard to race, color, sex, handicap, age, or national origin. The CDE is an equal opportunity provider.