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Latest News for the Summer Meal Programs
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Published: yesterday
" In Summer 2026, TDS has the discretion to allow SFSP and SSO operators in good standing to serve non-congregate meals at outdoor SFSP or SSO sites on days when a Heat Advisory, Excessive Heat Warning, or Excessive Heat Watch have been issued for the site area, or on days when the EPA has issues a purple flag or higher air quality warning for the area. Affected organizations must submit a Waiver Request form (available in TX-UNPS Download Forms) and supporting documentation in order for non-congregate meals served to be reimbursable.[David D]
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TDA has approval from USDA to approve SFSP and SSO operators in good standing to serve non-congregate meals at outdoor SFSP or SSO sites when one or both of the following conditions is occurring at the site on the day of service:
The Waiver Request to Serve Summer Non-Congregate Meals in Cases of Extreme Heat/Poor Air Quality must be used to report non-congregate meals served under this waiver. While the form can be submitted after the meal service occurs, TDA will review and approve all requests and submitted supporting documentation. If TDA determines that the applicable weather advisory was not issued or that the sponsor did not meet all requirements as noted below, TDA will notify the sponsor that any non-congregate meals must not be claimed for reimbursement.
Requirements:
- Only summer operators in good standing will be approved to serve non-congregate meals under this waiver. Sponsors with operational issues in the prior year, or with outstanding debt or corrective action, must serve only congregate meals throughout the summer.
- Information on this form, including the number of non-congregate meals served, must be reported for each individual site that served non-congregate meals on the impacted date.
- CEs must submit one form for each day this waiver was used. Information for multiple sites operating on a single day can be entered.
- Sites must upload proof of the heat or air quality event (available from the sites linked above).
- Sites cannot serve non-congregate meals if there is access to an alternative, temperature-controlled site where congregate meals can be served.
- Meals served under this waiver must be served directly to children. Parent/Guardian pickup without a child present is not allowable under this waiver.
- Only a single day’s meals may be bundled at a time. Multi-day bundling is not allowed.
- Meal service times cannot be changed within 24 hours of the service time listed on the site application. If meal service times are changed, the site must make every effort to notify the community and post signage at the site about the time change.
To access the form in TX-UNPS, go to either the SFSP or SNP module, select Applications, and then Download Forms (Form SFSP-009 for SFSP; for SSO, via the SNP waiver portal located at SNP-000).
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Assistance available in English and Spanish. Please call 877-TEX-MEAL (877-839-6325) for help. Additional translations services available as well.
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In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
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1. Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
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| This institution is an equal opportunity provider. |
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