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CACFP Resources
Meal Service Options for School Year (SY) 2020-2021
USDA issued a nationwide waiver allowing Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Operations to operate during the 2020-2021 School Year, providing the choice for Texas contracting entities to operate the National School Lunch Program or one of the summer feeding programs.

School Food Authorities that have not submitted applications or any applicable intake forms related to their program choice and waiver usage should contact TDA immediately. Note that SFAs were required to notify TDA of their program choice by October 31, 2020.

Based on current USDA guidance, which is subject to change, TDA has developed guidelines for each option available to school districts and community organizations. Please refer to the information below and continue to check the COVID-19 FAQ for School Year 2020-2021 frequently, as updates are ongoing.

Note that USDA reserves the right to withdraw this approval subject to the availability of funding.
Options for School Food Authorities (SFAs)
CEs must indicate their intention to use the COVID-19 waivers via an applicable intake form. Additional guidance is available in the Frequently Asked Questions documents for SY 2020-2021 (NSLP, SFSP, and SSO) and CACFP.
Child Nutrition Program Options Additional Information
National School Lunch Program (NSLP)/School Breakfast Program (SBP)

AND

Afterschool Programs
  1. Afterschool Care Program (ASCP)
  2. Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) At-Risk)
  • If the SFA chooses to operate NSLP, the decision applies districtwide. An SFA may not operate both NSLP and a summer program at the same time.
  • SFAs that have not submitted applications or any applicable intake forms related to their program choice and waiver usage should contact TDA immediately. Note that SFAs were required to notify TDA of their program choice by October 31, 2020.
  • SFAs operating NSLP may operate the afterschool programs.
Seamless Summer Option (SSO)

OR

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

AND

ASCP

OR

CACFP At-risk
  • If the SFA chooses to operate the SFSP/SSO, the decision applies districtwide. An SFA may not operate both a summer program and the NSLP at the same time.
  • SFAs that have not submitted applications or any applicable intake forms related to their program choice and waiver usage should contact TDA immediately. Note that SFAs were required to notify TDA of their program choice by October 31, 2020.
  • SFAs must have at least one site in its district that is area eligible or was approved via an area eligibility waiver in the spring/summer to operate open non-congregate SFSP/SSO service. Refer to the FAQs for more information.
  • Non-congregate sites can immediately operate in locations that are area eligible. SFAs wishing to operate non-congregate service in a non-eligible area must submit an area eligibility waiver request.
  • Closed enrolled congregate SFSP/SSO service at schools can be allowed for enrolled students regardless of the school’s area eligibility per COVID-19 flexibilities and under the following parameters:
    • SFAs operating closed enrolled service in eligible areas must ensure that an open, non-congregate option is available to its remote students and other children in each feeder pattern area.
    • SFAs operating closed enrolled service in non-eligible areas are required to notify TDA.
    • Applications for closed enrolled, non-congregate SSO/SFSP sites will not be approved.
  • SFAs participating in summer feeding programs may operate the ASCP or CACFP At-risk.
  • Each non-congregate SFSP/SSO site must have a "CVGG" or “CVHD” designation in its site application to distinguish congregate and non-congregate service sites. Multiple sites may be necessary to record the various options utilized. Refer to the FAQs for more information.
  • There is no “CV” designation for CACFP for the 20-21 program year.
Options for Non-School Entities
Child Nutrition Program Options Additional Information
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
  • Non-school entities may not operate SFSP in districts that have elected to serve NSLP.
  • If a non-school entity plans to serve a different meal type than the SFSP/SSO meals served by a nearby SFA (for example, snack and supper), it may be approved to operate SFSP in that area. Note that two summer feeding sites cannot operate at the same physical address, and proximity rules apply. CEs will have the duty to establish unmet need through a detailed plan. Plans must demonstrate a targeted low- income population that does not have access to alternative meal sites operated by an SFA and outline how current SFA participation will not be impacted by operation.
  • Each non-congregate site must have a "CVGG" or “CVHD” designation in its site application to distinguish congregate and non-congregate service sites. Refer to the FAQs for more information.
  • Applications for closed enrolled, non-congregate SSO/SFSP sites will not be approved.
  • SFA applications for SFSP/ SSO will be prioritized over non-school entity applications.
  • CEs should not operate prior to TDA approval. Meals served prior to TDA approval may not be reimbursed.
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) At-Risk
  • CACFP At-risk may continue to operate in areas where NSLP is operated.
  • If the SFA switches to a summer program, the non-school entity At-risk operator has several options available as outlined in the FAQs.
  • SFA applications for CACFP At-risk will be prioritized over non-school entity applications.
    The non-school entity may be able to switch to SFSP to serve eligible areas not served by an SFA (in areas where the SFA has opted into a summer feeding program).
  • TDA will assess options for additional sites on a case-by-case basis if an unmet need in the community is validated.

For more detailed guidance on how these options work, please refer to the FAQs posted on this webpage.

Updated 1/12/2021




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