Meals & Nutritional Services

Updated December 1, 2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued nationwide federal waivers and approved state-specific requests intended to provide temporary flexibilities for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), School Food Service Program (SFSP), and the Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP).

Updates, including new requirements, resources, and answers to frequently asked questions, are regularly posted to the California Department of Education COVID-19 School and Child and Adult Day Care Meals webpage.

Local Resources

School Meal Locations: Second Harvest Silicon Valley manages a Google Document that lists school food locations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Please check the document regularly for updates.
Emergency Food Information: If anyone is in need of food, they should call the Second Harvest Food Bank's Food Connection Hotline (in any language) at 800-984-3663 to get connected to a nearby distribution.
Farmers Markets: Several farmer's markets remain open and most accept EBT. The Pacific Coast Farmers' Markets maintains a list of open markets throughout the Bay Area, including a list of San Mateo locations.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Policy Memorandums

The USDA released several Policy Memorandums with questions and answers intended to provide clarification to state agencies and Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) operators during the novel coronavirus public health emergency:

SP 11-2020, CACFP 06-2020, and SFSP 05-2020: Questions and Answers related to the CNP Monitoring and Reporting Nationwide Waivers, released on April 9, 2020.
SP 13-2020, CACFP 07-2020, SFSP 06-2020: Child Nutrition Program Nationwide Waivers: Questions and Answers, released April 11, 2020.
SP 14-2020: Child Nutrition Program Meal Service during Novel Coronavirus Outbreaks: Questions and Answers #3, released on April 11, 2020.

Updates regarding the USDA waivers and additional information for program operators are regularly posted to the California Department of Education COVID-19 School and Child and Adult Day Care Meals web page.

Nutrition Waiver Requirements and Distribution Methods

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended nationwide waivers allowing schools to operate summer meal programs through June 30, 2021. With the operation of the summer meal programs, all children receive meals at no charge and no free and reduced-price meal (FRPM) applications, which are required under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), are collected.
- 2020-21 Requirements for Collecting Free and Reduced-Price Meal Eligibility Data Used to Determine Supplemental and Concentration Grant Funding (11-17-20)
- Nationwide Parent/Guardian Meal Pickup Waiver: The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is allowing states approved for non-congregate feeding to waive the rule preventing parents and guardians from picking up meals for their children, as long as they protect accountability and integrity. (Guidance for States on the Meal Pickup Waiver)
- Nationwide Meal Pattern Waiver: FNS has provided nationwide approval for states to locally waive specific meal pattern requirements as needed to support access to nutritious meals when certain foods are not available due to the novel coronavirus. (Guidance for States on the Meal Pattern Waiver)
- Nationwide Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Data Waiver: FNS is extending Community Eligibility Provision election, notification and reporting and deadlines for School Year 2020-21. (Guidance for States on the CEP Waiver)
- Congregate Meal Waivers: Schools or other community organizations that are approved to operate the SSO or SFSP can serve non-congregate meals during COVID-19 at school sites that are dismissed or closed by submitting a request to SNPINFO@cde.ca.gov. Requirements for this waiver, possible distribution methods, and frequently asked questions can be found on the California Department of Education's website.
- Pandemic EBT: As a result of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, children who would receive free or reduced price meals if not for school closures are eligible to receive assistance under this provision. USDA is providing guidance to state agencies on plan requirements in order to receive approval. (Guidance for States on Pandemic EBT)
- Nationwide Meal Times Waiver: FNS has provided a nationwide waiver to waive the requirement that Child Nutrition Program meals must follow meal service time requirements and also allow state agencies to adjust the time of meal services, including the suspension of meal times as needed. (Guidance for States on the Meal Times Nationwide Waiver)
- Nationwide Afterschool Activity Waiver: FNS has provided a nationwide waiver to waive the requirement that afterschool meals and snacks must be served in a school or program with an educational or enrichment purposes and that the meals and snacks must be served in a structured and supervised environment with an educational enrichment activity. (Guidance for States on the Afterschool Activity Nationwide Waiver)

CA Meals for Kids App

California Meals for Kids The CDE CA Meals for Kids mobile app has been updated to help students and families find meals during COVID-19-related emergency school closures. The information that populates the meals sites data is generated from the CDE's Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS). All school districts are encouraged to enter the information for their sites in the CNIPS site application. The app is available for free download through Apple’s App Store, Google’s Play Store, and Microsoft’s App Store web pages.

More Information

USDA Newsroom: Provides information on the UDSA COVID-19 non-congregate feeding waiver for schools
State of California-Heath and Human Services Agency: Provides information on School Guidance on Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19
Readiness and Emergency Management: Provides information on the dissemination for schools for emergencies
Food and Nutrition Service Disaster Assistance: Provides information on USDA Disaster Assistance

General Information:

Email: info@smcoe.org

Phone: (650) 802-5515