Summer may mean a vacation from classes, but it should not be a break from nutrition.  Children still need to be properly nourished to ensure that when school resumes, they are ready to learn. We can do our part by helping children stay nutritionally fit during the summer break through meals offered in a summer food program.  What can we do? What resources are available?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Services, in 2005 only a fraction of the children that participated in the National School Lunch Programs also participate in the summer programs that offer free meals.

Many school districts are familiar with the traditional Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).  While the SFSP is still available and may be appropriate for many schools, six years ago the federal government created the Seamless Summer Option as an alternative for schools that already participate in school meal programs and wish to continue meal service into the summer. Participants feed children for free and claim reimbursements at the free meal rate effective during the previous school year.

Also administered by TDA, the Seamless Summer Program offers a streamlined approach to providing free, reimbursable meals for children 18 years and younger.  School districts can apply with ease through TDA's Child Nutrition Programs Information Management System (CNPIMS).  The process is as simple as the annual renewal for the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs.

The program requires the same paperwork that schools use during the year for other reimbursable meal programs.  The same rules that govern the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program apply to the Seamless Summer Program with the exception of application and eligibility requirements, as all children eat free.

In 1993 state lawmakers required school districts to participate in the SFSP if 60 percent or more of their average daily attendance qualified for free and reduced-price meal benefits.  Since then, the Seamless Summer Program became available, and schools required to offer summer feeding may now choose the program that best fits their needs. In October 2007, TDA notified 485 out of 1,200 Texas school districts that they must participate in a summer program.

Summer feeding programs are a win-win for everyone.  Although certain districts must provide a summer program, all districts are encouraged to continue to provide children the opportunity to receive nutritionally sound meals. By doing so, districts benefit from positive public relations in the community, access to commodities, and are able to provide summer employment for food service staff.  It is also an excellent way to promote reimbursable programs and increase participation during the school year.

For additional information about the SFSP, visit the Web site http://www.summerfood.org/. To view the SFSP reimbursement rates, click on the link below.