Overview

School Nutrition Programs webpage | CACFP webpage | SFSP webpage

During the current COVID-19 public health emergency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has established nationwide waivers for Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs) to support access to nutritious meals, while enforcing recommendations from public health experts with regard to social distancing measures. In addition, the USDA allows states to request waivers enabling sponsors of CNPs to serve meals in more flexible ways during closures the current COVID-19 public health emergency. CNPs that can apply for these waivers include the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO) of the NSLP, and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). 

This webpage provides guidance and resources on the nationwide waivers that Connecticut has opted in to, the state waivers submitted to the USDA by the CSDE, and the USDA's requirements for CNPs operating during the current COVID-19 public health emergency. CNP sponsors and operators must receive approval from the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) to implement these waiver flexibilities. 

Quick Links  |   Implementation Resources  |   USDA Q&As  |   PEBT

Quick Links

• COVID-19 Resources (Related Resources section)
• CSDE Waivers Submitted to USDA for School Year 2022-23 (Documents/Forms section)
• Sponsor Waiver Applications for School Year 2022-23 (How To section)
• USDA Memos and Guidance (Related Resources section)
• USDA Nationwide Waivers for Summer 2022 (Documents/Forms section)
• USDA Nationwide Waivers for School Year 2022-23 (Documents/Forms section)

Implementation Resources

The resources below provide guidance for CNPs on meal service during the current COVID-19 public health emergency. The CNPs that each resource applies to are indicated in parentheses.

• Alternate Meal Service Locations
  • Maintaining Integrity in School Meals Served Outside the Cafeteria (USDA)
• CSDE Guidance and Considerations
  • Bulk Foods (NSLP, SBP, SFSP, SSO, CACFP): Considerations for Providing Meal Components in Bulk Sizes at Non-congregate Meal Service Sites
  • Promotional Handout (NSLP, SBP): It's More Than a Meal (CSDE)  Encourages households to submit a free/reduced-price meal application
• Food Safety
  • Guidelines (NSLP, SBP, SFSP, SSO, CACFP): Food Safety Guidelines for Distributing Meals for Students’ Consumption at Home (CSDE)
  • Infographic (NSLP, SBP): Reopening Guidance for School Food Service Programs: Providing Safe Food in a Safe Manner (State of Connecticut Department of Public Health)
• Parent/Guardian Pickup
  • Best Practices (NSLP, SBP, SSO, CACFP): Child Nutrition Program Meal Service During Coronavirus (COVID-19): Best Practices for Parent Pick-Up of Meals and Snacks (USDA)
• Supply Chain Issues
  • Child Nutrition Waiver Update to Address Meal Service During Unanticipated School Closures and Supply Chain Issues (USDA)
  • CSDE Memo to Superintendents: Rising Costs for School Child Nutrition Programs Resources for Supply Chain Challenge
  • CSDE Survey for Reporting Supply Chain Issues Impacting Operations: Use this survey to report to the CSDE about supply chain issues impacting your program
  • Making Last-Minute Substitutions to your School Meal Menu (USDA)
  • Planning for a Dynamic School Environment During School Year 2021-2022: Supply Chain Issues (USDA webpage)
  • Supply Chain Resources (School Nutrition Association)
  • Supply Chain Toolkit for Northeast School Meal Partners (USDA)
  • Recorded Webinars
    • Navigating Supply Chain Disruptions (No Kid Hungry)
    • Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) STAR Webinar Series: Panel discussions with food service directors and state agency staff sharing their solutions to many of the supply chain issues being faced by operators this year
      • Back to School: Tools and Strategies to Address Supply Chain Challenges - Part 1
      • Back to School: Tools and Strategies to Address Supply Chain Challenges - Part 2
    • Procurement Strategies for School Year 2021-2022: Webinar for School Food Authorities (USDA Food and Nutrition Service)
  • USDA Memo SP 01-2022 and CACFP 01-2022: Questions and Answers for Child Nutrition Programs Emergency Procurement Due to Supply Chain Disruptions
• Transitioning to Standard Operations for School Year 2022-23
  • Child Nutrition Flexibilities for Summer 2022 and School Year 2022-23 (USDA website)
  • School Meals Programs Comparison Table of Flexibilities for School Year 2021-22 and School Year 2022-23 (USDA)
  • Summer Programs 2022: Transitioning to Standard Operations in the Child Nutrition Programs and the Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022: Follow-Up Questions and Answers from Webinars (USDA)
  • Recorded Webinars
    • April 18, 2022: Transitioning to Normal Child Nutrition Operations (USDA)
    • May 12, 2022: Transitioning to Normal Child Nutrition Operations: Additional Waiver Opportunities (USDA)
    • July 6, 2022: Overview of the Keep Kids Fed Act and New Supply Chain Assistance Funding (USDA)
    • Webinar Q&As: Transitioning to Standard Child Nutrition Operations and the Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 Follow-Up Questions and Answers from Webinars for School Year 2022-2023 (USDA)

USDA Q&As

The chart below includes USDA policy memos related to the operation of Child Nutrition Programs during COVID-19. To access additional USDA policy memos, visit the CSDE's webpages for Operational Memoranda for School Nutrition Programs, Operational Memoranda for the CACFP, and Operational Memoranda for the SFSP.

 

Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program

The P-EBT program is a partnership of the CSDE and Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS). The P-EBT program provides households with an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card that contains the value of the free school breakfast and lunch reimbursement rates for the days that schools are closed. Eligible households include those with children who are certified to receive free or reduced-price school meals, and children who attend schools offering free school meals to all students (such as community eligibility schools). The P-EBT program will reach approximately 270,000 children in Connecticut, and complements other efforts to provide food to children during this difficult time. Local educational agencies (LEAs) and school food authorities (SFAs) are instrumental in ensuring that P-EBT benefits reach the students in their district. 

• Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) (Department of Social Services)
• How to Use Your P-EBT (Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer) Connect Card (DSS)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (DSS)