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.
May 2, 2024 - RELEASE: Excess Net Cash Resources Plan for CACFP and SFSP
TDA has released a new form for CACFP and SFSP operators that have exceeded the allowable amount of net cash resources to be maintained in the non-profit food service account at any given time (CACFP - 3 months' average expenditure, SFSP only - 1 month average expenditures). This form should be used for internal planning should net cash resources exceed the required limit. As applicable, operators may have to submit the spending plan to TDA in response to required corrective action. This form is available on both the CACFP and Summer Meal Programs Administration/Forms pages.
May 2, 2024 - RELEASE: SFSP Sponsor Monitoring Form Prototypes
TDA has released new and revised SFSP Sponsor Monitoring Form prototypes, including the Pre-Operational Visit Form, the First Two Weeks Site Visit Form, and the Site Review Form (congregate and non-congregate versions). These forms were updated to include review questions for rural sites approved to operate non-congregate service in Summer 2024.
These forms can be found on the Summer Meal Programs Administration/Forms page.
April 30, 2024 - RELEASE: Updated SFSP Supplemental Handbook
TDA has released an updated SFSP Supplemental Handbook, featuring numerous updates, including material incorporated from USDA's handbook. All updates are listed in the table at the beginning of the document, and updated content is highlighted in yellow throughout. Note that consolidation of USDA's handbook and TDA's Supplemental Handbook will be ongoing throughout the year.
April 17, 2024 - Extreme Heat/Air Quality Non-Congregate Waivers Available in Summer 2024
USDA has approved TDA's request to allow SFSP or SSO non-congregate service on days in which a Heat Advisory/Heat Warning is issued by the National Weather Service, or an Air Quality Index "purple" flag or higher is issued. All operators must notify TDA via the Extreme Heat/Air Quality Non-Congregate Waiver Request form (updated version coming soon) and submit the form for each day that non-congregate meals were served. Note that rural SFSP or SSO sites already approved for non-congregate service do not need to submit this form.
While a site does not need approval prior to serving non-congregate meals under these conditions, TDA will verify that there was an officially declared extreme heat or air quality warning for the affected area and notify the sponsor that the non-congregate meals served on the requested day are allowable. Any non-congregate meals served on days when these warnings were not in effect will be disallowed, as will any non-congregate meals served on days for which a request form was not submitted.
April 5, 2024 - RELEASE: Rural Summer Non-Congregate Request Form and Resources
The request form for eligible SFSP and SSO operators wanting to serve non-congregate summer meals in rural areas this summer is now open and available on the Summer Non-Congregate Feeding Program page. Before submitting the form, Contracting Entities should complete the following:
- Using the Summer 2024 Non-Congregate Eligibility Map, first validate that the intended site is rural and is more than 2 miles away from the next nearest site.
- Read the posted Non-Congregate FAQs very carefully. Requirements for non-congregate feeding have changed since non-congregate feeding was allowable statewide during the pandemic. Operators should know what is expected of a successful non-congregate site and evaluate its operations to determine if the site can be in compliance. Note that these FAQs serve as the official "handbook" for Summer Non-Congregate service until updates to the official program handbooks can be made.
- If the site is rural and in good standing, ensure that a site application has been submitted in TX-UNPS prior to submitting the Non-Congregate Request Form. Sites must be approved or conditionally approved within TX-UNPS prior to being approved for non-congregate service.
All interested operators are encouraged to register for the Overview of Summer Non-Congregate Feeding webinar being held April 17, 2024, at 2:00 pm. Please register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ww6JyNsRSIeuhzZGwaN8Xg
An additional presentation will also be given at this year’s MegaCon conference. Operators are encouraged to start preparing now. After reading the FAQs, think about flexibilities that make sense for your site, procedures that must be developed, and strategic site locations. Note that the application process requires more information than years past per guidance from USDA. Please consult with your Education Service Center about any questions you may have after reading through all of TDA's guidance.
February 9, 2024 - RELEASE: School Data for Area Eligibility Report
TDA must, on an annual basis, 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 2023-2024 report, based on October 2023 claims data for non-CEP schools and the April 2023 CEP ISP report for CEP schools, has been posted to SquareMeals in the following locations:
http://www.squaremeals.org/Programs/ChildandAdultCareFoodProgram/CACFPAdministrationamp;Forms.aspx
http://www.squaremeals.org/Programs/SummerFeedingPrograms/SummerFeedingAdministrationamp;Forms.aspx
https://squaremeals.org/Programs/National-School-Lunch-Program/Administration-Forms
January 4, 2024 - RELEASE: NEW Duplicative Costs FAQ
TDA has released a set of FAQs related to duplicative costs. A duplicative cost is an unallowable expense that results from a Contracting Entity (CE) paying for the same service under multiple contracts using federal funding. Duplicative costs occur when a CE enters a contract for a service currently provided by TDA or partners of TDA, including Education Service Centers (ESCs) and the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN). The Duplicative Costs FAQs are posted on the NSLP, CACFP, and Summer Programs Resources pages (under Policy Documents). This guidance will also be added to Program handbooks in future updates.
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.