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 |  Paid Lunch Equity
State Transition Assistance for Reduced-price (STAR) Funds


CSDE Waiver Requests to USDA
  • School Year 2024-25 Public Notice 1: Waiver to Change the Administrative Reviews Cycle for the School Nutrition Programs from Three Years to Five Years
  • School Year 2024-25 Public Notice 2: Waiver to Change the Deadline for Submission of the Interim Plan for Operations and Management (iPOM) of the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (S-EBT) Program
  • School Year 2024-25 Public Notice 3: Prospective Waiver to Provide Non-congregate Meal Service in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), NSLP Seamless Summer Option (SSO), and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) At-risk Afterschool Meals in Specific Circumstances

Local Food for Schools Incentive Program: Phase 2
  • 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