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.
February 4, 2026 - RELEASE: 2026 SFSP Reimbursement Rates
USDA has published the 2026 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) reimbursement rates. The new rates, which reflect a 3.7% increase from 2025, are published on the SquareMeals Summer Meals Reimbursement Rates page:
https://squaremeals.org/Programs/Summer-Meal-Programs/Reimbursement-Rates
February 3, 2026 - RELEASE: School Data for Area Eligibility Report
On an annual basis, TDA must publish a list of schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in which at least one-half of the children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. The School Data for Area Eligibility 2025-2026 report, based on October 2025 claims data for non-CEP schools and the April 2025 CEP ISP report for CEP schools, has been posted to SquareMeals on the NSLP, CACFP, and Summer Feeding Administration/Forms pages.
January 29. 2026 - NEW WEBINAR - Rural Non-Congregate Feeding Program Overview
On February 18 at 2 p.m. CST, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) will host the Summer 2026 Rural Non-Congregate Feeding Program Overview webinar. This session will be a deep dive into the requirements, flexibilities, updates, and resources associated with rural non-congregate feeding during Summer 2026.
The agenda items for the webinar will include:
• Sponsor and Site Eligibility
• Site Proximity Exceptions
• Meal Bundling and Bulk Food Component Distribution
• Parent Pick-up Best Practices
• Home Delivery Requirements
• Hybrid Congregate/Non-Congregate Sites
• Monitoring
• Strategies and Best Practices
• Application Processes
• Tools and Resources
To join the webinar, click here: Summer 2026 Rural Non-Congregate Feeding Program Overview Webinar
December 17. 2025 - Increase to the Micro-purchase Threshold
On October 1, the Office of Management and Budget increased the micro-purchase threshold from $10,000 to $15,000. Effective immediately, all Contracting Entities can use this higher threshold when using the micro-purchase method of procurement. All handbooks will be updated early next year to reflect this new threshold. All other procurement requirements remain unchanged.
September 23, 2025 - RELEASE: Revised SFSP Supplemental Handbook
A revised SFSP Supplemental Handbook has been released to reflect the change to the formal procurement threshold from $50,000 to $100,000.
August 29, 2025 - Increase to the Formal Procurement Threshold
On September 1, 2025, in accordance with Texas Senate Bill 1173, which raises the formal procurement threshold for school districts from $50,000 to $100,000, TDA is also raising the formal procurement threshold to $100,000 for all nutrition and household programs. As such, beginning September 1, any single transaction over $10,000 but below $100,000 will require the small purchase method, and transactions of $100,000 and over will require formal procurement. TDA is in the process of updating these thresholds in all program handbooks.
July 17, 2025 - Guidance on the Interpretation of Discrimination Based on “Sex” in USDA Child Nutrition Programs
USDA has rescinded the May 2022 Bostock policy update that sought to require federally-funded food and nutrition service programs to redefine discrimination by reason of “sex” under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (FNA) as not based on just male or female, but also “gender identity.” While an official updated Nondiscrimination Statement has not been issued by USDA, Contracting Entities should update electronic resources and any newly printed materials to reflect the version of the NDS available on SquareMeals. TDA will continue to provide guidance on any further updates to the NDS. More information is available here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/guidance-discrimination-sex