Policy and Handbooks for Summer Meal Programs

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Administration/Forms Area Eligibility CFDA/FAIN Numbers Compliance Disaster Resources Food Safety Funding Opportunities Income Eligibility Guidelines Latest News Meal Pattern National Disqualified List New Applicants Newsletter Policy/Handbooks Program Year Calendar Reimbursement Rates Renewing CEs Resources Statistics Summer Meal Site Map Texas Farm Fresh Training Turnip the Beet TX-UNPS Waivers Summer Non-Congregate Feeding Program	Policy Updates and News All the most current resources you need to successfully operate the Summer Meal Programs are available here. TDA keeps this page updated with any new policy updates and news, including the following: Handbook release notices with update summaries Form release notices Brand new policy updates that haven’t yet been updated within the handbooks FAQs and other resources, as required Please bookmark this page and check back periodically. Summer 2023 Frequently Asked Questions (last updated August 4, 2023) An updated set of Summer 2023 FAQs is now available here: Summer 2023 Frequently Asked Questions Note the FAQs are now only available on this page. TDA will pin this entry to the top of this Policy Updates and News module and update as required. Please bookmark this page and check back frequently. October 26, 2023 - RELEASE: New Micro-Purchase Log TDA has released a new Micro-Purchase Log for SFSP on the Summer Meals Program Administration/Forms page. This optional form allows Contracting Entities to track all informal micro-purchase transactions and associated information throughout the Program Year. USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Handbooks To read the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) handbooks, visit the USDA SFSP handbooks page at https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/handbooks. TDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Supplemental Handbook Within the TDA SFSP Supplemental Handbook, TDA provides additional guidance that clarifies and/or supplements policy provided by USDA in the Administrative Guidance for Sponsors (AGS) and policy memos. The TDA SFSP Supplemental Handbook models the organizational structure of AGS, for the CE’s ease of use. USDA Policy Memos USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) issues policy memoranda to provide guidance on implementing SFSP. Click here to see these memos on the USDA site. FNS Instruction 796-4, Rev. 4 and Tip Sheet FNS Instruction 796-4 Rev 4, Financial Management - Summer Food Service Program for Children Tip Sheet - Assessing Costs in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) State and Federal Law Concerning F&N Programs Texas Administrative Code, 4.1: General Procedures Texas Administrative Code, 4.25: Special Nutrition Programs Texas Administrative Code, 4.26: Food and Nutrition Division Texas Administrative Code, 4.26.E: Appeal Procedures for F&N Seamless Summer Option (SSO) Policy For guidance on operating the SSO, CEs should refer to Section 11 of the Administrator’s Reference Manual (ARM) by clicking here. This section of the ARM also provides guidance on the Texas Summer Mandate.

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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.

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 (including gender identity and sexual orientation), 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/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.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:

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

3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.