Current School Year Operational Updates for School Nutrition Programs

Documents/Forms


The guidance below applies to school year 2024-25 (July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025).

CSDE Waiver Requests to USDA  |   Chefs to Schools  |   Paid Lunch Equity
State Transition Assistance for Reduced-price (STAR) Funds

CSDE Waiver Requests to USDA

  • School Year 2025-26 Public Notice 1: Waivers for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) for Summer 2025

Chefs to Schools

  • Paid Lunch Equity (CSDE's Financial Management for School Nutrition Programs webpage)

State Transition Assistance for Reduced-price (STAR) Funds

Pursuant to Section 242 of Public Act 24-81, for school year 2024-25, the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) will cover the cost to families for one breakfast and one lunch per day for students who qualify for reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP). This means that schools participating in NSLP and/or SBP will not charge families for the reduced-price portion of these meals. STAR funds will provide payments to SFAs for the difference between the federal reimbursement rates for free meals and the reimbursement rates for reduced-price breakfasts ($0.30) and lunches ($0.40). School food authorities (SFAs) will determine individual student eligibility for free, reduced-priced, and paid students and submit claims for reimbursement accordingly.

STAR Funds Application

Summer EBT (S-EBT)