Waiver Requests

Waiver Request - Continue SSO and SFSP - Delayed/Staggered Reopening of Schools

Waiver Request to continue the Seamless Summer Option and the Summer Food Service Program During Unanticipated School Closure and Delayed/Staggered Reopening of Schools Due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) July 8, 2020 (Amended August 3, 2020)

Waiver Request - Area Eligibility _SSO & SFSP

Waiver request to temporarily suspend area eligibility requirements for School Food Authorities and Community Organizations operating the SSO and SFSP during COVID-19 mandated school closures through June 30, 2020 or until the emergency declaration is lifted.

2020 Waiver Congregate Meal Service During Unanticipated School Closures for Coronavirus - NC

Waiver request to allow SFSP and SSO non-congregate meal service for children during unanticipated school closure that could result from the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak.

The following waivers have been submitted to the USDA for consideration:

• Waiver Request 1
  Waiver of first week SFSP site visits for School Food Authorities and other sponsors in good standing, which operated experienced sites in good standing without a lapse in participation
• Waiver Request 2
  Waiver extending area eligibility to closed enrolled sites
• Waiver Request 3
  Waiver of meal-time restrictions; specifically, the minimum amount of time that must pass between meals and snacks and the duration of the meal service, with approval to be determined by the NCDPI on a case-by-case basis
• Waiver Request 4
  Waiver to extend Offer versus Serve to SFA and other sponsors, approval to be determined by the NCDPI on a case-by-case basis
• Waiver Request 5
  Waiver to allow school sites to serve meals for reimbursement during unanticipated school closures
• Waiver Request 6
  Waiver to allow NCDPI to exclude the prior year’s reimbursement of sponsors no longer participating in the Summer Food Service Program in determining the aggregate reimbursement for the current year’s Administrative Review Schedule

The goal of these waivers is to reinstate the rescinded flexibilities that allow for efficient and cost-effective program management and to reduce the administrative burden for sponsoring organizations and the State Agency.

DESCRIPTION:  Pursuant to Section 12(l)(1)(A)(ii) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA), the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is proposing waiver of the 3-year Administrative Review cycle prescribed in 7 CFR §210.18.  7 CFR §210.18 requires NCDPI to complete Administrative Reviews of School Food Authorities participating in School Nutrition Programs.  NCDPI is proposing and seeking approval of a 5-year Administrative Review cycle. 

• Affiliated sites; 
• Experienced sites in good standing without a lapse in participation, (to be determined on a case by case basis); and
• Sites that operate one week or less. 

DESCRIPTION
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is requesting a waiver from the US Department of Agriculture, from the requirements of Section 13(a)(1)(A)(i)(III) of the NSLA, 42 USC 1761(a)(1)(A)(i)(III) and the regulatory definition of closed enrolled sites, which requires eligibility determinations for closed enrolled sites to be made by submitting income or household applications in accordance with 7 CFR 225.15(f).  If granted, the waiver is expected to reduce administrative burdens for School Food Authorities, other sponsors and NCDPI and maintain Summer Food Service Program meal service participation by allowing use one of the following three options to determine eligibility for closed enrolled sites:

• School Data
• Census Data
• Income or Household applications and
• Other types of data to determine area eligibility for a period of five years (e.g., local zoning data, housing authority information, economic surveys, etc.).