Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and School Principals:

Reducing Hunger in Response to Uncertainty of the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

In California, we work hard to ensure that our students have consistent access to healthy, balanced meals. As someone who grew up in a family that depended on food stamps, I know firsthand the impact that hunger can have on a child’s ability to learn. The 5.5 million Californians who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, including 2 million children, are currently feeling the impact of delays and disruptions to federal SNAP benefits.

California is the fourth-largest economy in the world, and we believe it is unconscionable to ever let any child go hungry in a state where healthy food is abundant. That is why we were the first state to institute a Universal School Meals program serving nearly 885 million school meals annually, and that is why we are committed to pursue all available avenues to prevent this federal shutdown from impacting the well-being of our students and families.

At this time, the California Department of Education (CDE) is continuing to receive federal meal reimbursements from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the school meals served in California, so there has not yet been any disruption to school meals. This means that, now more than ever, our schools are a life-saving resource for an estimated 27 percent of California households with children who face food insecurity.

This letter includes important information that local educational agencies (LEAs) can use to maximize the use of existing state dollars to support nutritional services, as well as an update regarding the efforts of the CDE to expand access to nutritional services for all students.

Availability of Expanded Learning Opportunity Program (ELOP) Funds to Support Students’ Nutritional Needs

California has made significant state investments that can be utilized to provide nutritional services, including our Expanded Learning Opportunity Program (ELOP). Below are important considerations for LEAs regarding the use of ELOP funds for nutritional services:

• Families can enroll their students in ELOP at any time. Students must be enrolled in ELOP in order to receive nutritional services through the program.
• LEAs can use ELOP funds to offer non-congregate meals on non-school days, including during Thanksgiving break or winter break.
• For additional questions around ELOP meals, please refer to the ELOP FAQ page, specifically items 54–60: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ex/elofaq.asp.

The CDE Has Filed an Application for Federal Waivers Expanding the Allowable Use of Federal School Nutrition Funds

Due to the continued uncertainty of SNAP funds, the CDE has filed a 12L Waiver Request with the USDA for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) meals served in California, requesting to allow School Nutrition Program (SNP) operators in California the flexibility to provide non-congregate meal service on non-school days through the NSLP and SBP.

Securing the approval of this waiver from the USDA is essential to ensure that children who may be impacted by additional delays and reductions in federal SNAP benefits have continuous access to healthy meals and proper nutrition. Under these emergency circumstances, the CDE has requested the following flexibilities: non-congregate meal service, meal service during school days, meal service times, and offer versus serve meal requirement for high schools.

The USDA has yet to approve this waiver; therefore, schools will need to continue operating under the federal SNP rules until further notice. LEAs are encouraged to use the strategies mentioned in this letter to maximize existing meal access options.

On Monday, the CDE filed an additional waiver seeking federal approval to offer grab-and-go meals during school breaks that are less than 15 days, such as the upcoming Thanksgiving break.

Additional Strategies to Maximize Existing Nutrition Resources

The CDE encourages LEAs to consider the following strategies to maximize school nutrition resources to help hungry children and families in your school communities:

• promote free school breakfast and lunch programs, especially through multilingual communication and mass text messages to families;
• add more points of service during mealtimes to make participation easier and faster for students;
• consider “second chance” breakfast options and shelf-stable items for flexibility and convenience;
• implement Breakfast in the Classroom on a temporary basis to increase access;
• provide late afternoon access to food through ELOP, or explore the At-Risk Supper Program through the California Department of Social Services; and
• consider “share tables” for unwanted food items during mealtimes or explore donating any uneaten, state-funded meals to local food banks.

Thank you again for your hard work on behalf of California students. Together, we will continue to stay focused on moving the needle for student achievement, no matter what. For a running list of CDE communications in response to 2025 federal actions, please visit: https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/fa.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction