School Nutrition Programs (SNP) are a vital resource to ensure that students have access to healthy and nutritious meals to learn and grow. During periods of economic uncertainty and when school is not in session, many SNP Operators are searching for ways to ensure that students continue to have access to healthy meals. This communication provides information and resources about the options available through the SNP in these circumstances.
Strategies to Ensure Student Access to School Meals and Food Items When School is in Session
There are strategies available to SNP Operators when school is in session that can be used to ensure students have greater access to school meals and food items. These include the following:
Increase Access to School Breakfast
Schools are encouraged to utilize alternative breakfast models, including Breakfast in the Classroom, second-chance breakfast and grab and go breakfast to help boost opportunities for students to access the School Breakfast Program. The California Department of Education (CDE) and the Child Nutrition Advisory Council developed the Increasing Access to School Breakfast to Improve Student Outcomes report (PDF; 143 KB; 6 pp.) that provides operators with strategies that can be used to increase breakfast participation.
Increase Available Meal Service Times and Service Locations
During the school day, SNP Operators can increase available times and service locations for students to receive school breakfast, lunch, and after school snacks. For example, having additional service stations and kiosks available for meal service can ensure that children have adequate time to eat. For more information, please visit the CDE Ensuring Adequate Time to Eat web page.
Encourage the Use of Share Tables
Share tables are carts or tables where children can place unconsumed food and beverage items that they choose not to eat or drink. These tables provide an opportunity for other children to take additional helpings of food or beverages at no cost. To learn more about share tables, please visit CDE Management Bulletin CNP-03-2018 titled Use of Share Tables.
Consider Providing Additional Meals like Supper and Afterschool Snack
SNP Operators have the option to participate in the Afterschool Snack Meal Supplement under the NSLP. Consider including additional food components beyond the minimum requirements as well as providing shelf-stable items. Operators may also provide Supper or At-Risk Snack through the Child and Adult Care Food Program administered by the California Department of Social Services
.
Encourage Students to Take Unfinished Meal Components Outside the Meal Service Area to Eat Later
Students have the option to take food items that do not require cooling or heating and cannot be consumed during the meal service period to eat later. To learn more about this, please see Management Bulletin CNP-05-2015 titled Food Consumption Outside of the Foodservice Area.
Ensure that Leftover Food is Donated
Food prepared for the SNP that is not consumed may be donated to local food banks or charitable organizations. Please note this flexibility has many constraints that SNP Operators should acknowledge, including ensuring food safety and this flexibility is only available in partnership with eligible food banks and charitable organizations. Leftover food should not be distributed directly to families from SNP Operators. To learn more about donated food, please see Management Bulletin CNP-02-2018 titled Guidance on Donation of Leftover Food in CNPs.
Meal Service During School Breaks
Federal regulations allow for meal service during school break under the Seamless Summer Feeding Option (SSO) when the break period is more than 10 days, or under the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) when the break period is 15 or more days. Holidays and weekends are not counted towards the school break period. Sites operating SSO and SFSP must meet area eligibility requirements.
Title 7, Code of Federal Regulation, Section 210.14 limits nonprofit school food account revenue (cafeteria funds) to the operation and improvement of school food service. Outside of the above options for school breaks and strategies to ensure access while school is in session, cafeteria funds are not an available resource to supplement households with food during school breaks and economic hardship.
To help families in need find information about food assistance, please share the California Association of Food Banks webpage
.
Contact Information
For questions regarding the meals during school break under the SSO or SFSP, please reach out to the Summer Nutrition Programs and Grants Unit by email at: SFSP@cde.ca.gov.
For questions regarding options available when school is in session, please contact your SNP Specialist. A current list of SNP Specialists is available on the SNP Specialist Directory web page. You may also contact an SNP Office Technician at SNPInfo@cde.ca.gov.