Summary of Current COVID-19 Child Nutrition Program Response Nationwide Waivers
For each of the 100 nationwide waivers and waiver extensions issued to date, this resource provides the waiver number, the title, programs to which it applies, its release date, the end date, a brief summary of what the waiver does, and additional notes and caveats. It also includes the Q&A memoranda issued by the USDA to provide clarification and additional guidance around the nationwide waivers and operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This summary was last updated on 10/25/2021. It includes a Q&A released 6/11/21 related to the waivers available for School Year 2021-2022 to support schools and CACFP operators. In addition, it features a waiver extending the deadline for local wellness policy assessments, a waiver regarding administrative review requirements for state agencies overseeing schools operating SSO during SY21-22, and a waiver eliminating fiscal action related to meal pattern violations related to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions. The summary includes earlier guidance for state agencies on reimbursing meals served to young adults through age 24 at CACFP emergency shelters as well as a Q&A released 6/8/21 on this topic; the waiver allowing SFSP sponsors that operated in FY 2019 to apply for summer 2021 as experienced sponsors; the extension of deadlines relating to Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) reporting and election for SY2021-2022; and the extension of eight key summer meals program waivers through summer 2021 operations.
Note: In late June, Congress extended USDA's authority to issue nationwide waivers for Summer 2022 operations and provided more limited authority to issue nationwide waivers for SY22-23. For more information, see our update on the Keep Kids Fed Act. We will update this page once the USDA has issued new waivers.
Monitoring Waivers in Effect until 30 Days After the End of the Public Health Emergency
- Onsite Monitoring Requirements for CACFP Sponsors (#39 & #96)
- Previously Monitoring Requirements for CACFP Sponsors (#7 & #27)
- Onsite Monitoring Requirements for CACFP State Agencies (#8, #28, #40 & #95)
- Onsite Monitoring Requirements in the School Meals Programs (#9, #29, #41 & #94)
Waivers in Effect for SSO, NSLP, SBP, and CACFP for SY 2021-2022 (through June 30, 2022)
- Allow Schools to Utilize the Seamless Summer Options through SY 2021-2022 (#85)
- Allow SFSP Reimbursement Rates for SSO Meals in SY 2021-2022 (#86)
- Non-congregate Feeding in the Child Nutrition Programs (#2, #24, #33, #87)
- Meal Service Time Flexibility in the Child Nutrition Programs (#1 & #17, #34, #88)
- Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals for Children (#5 & #25, #35 & #89)
- Specific Meal Pattern Flexibility in the School Meals Programs and CACFP (#90 & #91 respectively)
- Offer Versus Serve Flexibility for Senior High Schools in the NSLP (#37 & #92)
- Area Eligibility in the Afterschool Programs and for Family Day Care Home Providers (#93)
- Previously Area Eligibility for CACFP At-Risk Afterschool (#58 & #68)
- Provide Flexibility for School Meal Programs Administrative Reviews of SFAs Operating Only the SSO in SY 21-22 (#97)
- Waiver to Allow Fiscal Action Flexibility for Meal Pattern Violations Related to COVID-19 Supply Chain Disruptions Impacting School Meals in School Year 2021-2022 (#100)
Waivers in Effect for SFSP for SY 2021-2022 (through June 30, 2022)
- Waiver to Allow Non-Congregate Meal Service for Service Institutions Operating the Summer Food Service Program during Unanticipated School Closers in School Year 2021-2022 (#101)
- Waiver of Meal Times Requirements for Service Institutions Operating the Summer Food Service Program during Unanticipated School Closers in School Year 2021-2022 (#102)
- Waiver to Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals Served by Service Institutions Operating the Summer Food Service Program during Unanticipated School Closers in School Year 2021-2022 (#103)
- Waiver of Area Eligibility Requirements for Service Institutions Operating the Summer Food Service Program during Unanticipated School Closers in School Year 2021-2022 (#104)
Waivers in Effect for SFSP for SY 2021-2022 (through September 30, 2022)
Deadline & Deadline Extension Waivers
- Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Deadlines (#6 & #82)
- 60 Day Reporting Requirements for January and February 2020 (#12)
- Deadline Extension for Local School Wellness Policy Triennial Assessments in the NSLP and SBP (#18 & #98)
- FFCRA Opt-In Waiver for SY2020- 2021 NSLP USDA Foods Entitlement Calculations
- FFCRA Opt-In Waiver for SY2021-2022 NSLP USDA Foods Entitlement Calculations
- Selected Child Nutrition Program State Agency Reporting Requirements
Expired Waivers
- Waiver of the Activity Requirement in Afterschool Care Child Nutrition Programs (#3) (expired 6/30/20)
- Extend Unanticipated School Closure Operations through June 30, 2020 (#21) (expired 6/30/20)
- Waiver of Annual Review Requirements for State Agencies in the CACFP (#20) (expired 9/30/20)
- Allow SFSP and SSO Operations through School Year 2020-2021 (#56 & #59) (expired 6/30/2021)
- Allow Reimbursement for Meals Served Prior to Notification of Approval and Provide Flexibility for Pre-Approval Visits in the SFSP (#57 & #69) (expired 6/30/2021)
- Food Service Management Contract Duration in the NSLP and SFSP (#19 & #71) (expired 6/30/2021)
- Meal Pattern Flexibility in the SFSP & SSO (#4, #13, #24, #26, #38, #45, #53, #63 & #74; extended for SSO only - SFSP waiver expired 6/30/2021)
- Non-congregate Feeding in the SFSP & SSO (#2, #24, #44, #54, #61 & #75)
- Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals for Children (#5, #25, #47, #55, #62 & #76)
- Meal Service Time Flexibilities in the SFSP and SSO (#17, #50, #66 & #78)
- Meal Pattern Flexibility in the SFSP & SSO (#4, #13, #24, #26, #38, #45, #53, #63 & #74; #74 extends SSO only - SFSP waiver expired 6/30/2021)
- Area Eligibility Waiver Extensions (#32, #46, #52, #60 & #77)
- Area Eligibility for Closed Enrolled Sites in the SFSP and NSLP SSO (#14, #48, #64 & #80)
- Waiver of the First Week Site Visit Requirement in the SFSP (#15, #49, #65 & #81)
- Offer Versus Serve Flexibilities in the SFSP (#16, #51, #67 & #79)
- Allow Sponsors that Successfully Participated in the SFSP in FY 2019 to Operate as Experienced Sponsors in FY 2021 (#83)
- Onsite Monitoring Requirements for SFSP Sponsors (#10, #30 & #42)
- Onsite Monitoring Requirements for SFSP State Agencies (#11, #31 & #43)
Guidance Memoranda and Q&As (with issue date)
- COVID-19 SFSP and SSO Meal Delivery Using Existing Authority (3/9/20)
- Questions and Answers Related to the Child Nutrition Program Monitoring and Reporting Nationwide Waivers (4/9/20)
- Child Nutrition Program Nationwide Waivers: Questions and Answers (4/11/20)
- Child Nutrition Program Meal Service during Novel Coronavirus Outbreaks: Questions and Answers #3 (4/11/20)
- Child Nutrition Program Meal Service during Novel Coronavirus Outbreaks: Questions and Answers #4 (4/21/20)
- SFSP and SSO Nationwide Waivers – Questions and Answers (5/19/20)
- Questions and Answers on the Nationwide Waiver to Extend Unanticipated School Closure Operations through June 30, 2020 (5/29/20)
- Answers Related to FSMC Contract Extensions and Allowable Costs During the Pandemic (6/3/20)
- Questions and Answers for the Child Nutrition Programs during School Year 2020-21 #5 (8/21/20)
- Questions and Answers Relating to the Nationwide Waiver to Allow SFSP and SSO Operations through December 2020 (9/11/20)
- Questions and Answers Relating to the Nationwide Waiver to Allow SFSP and SSO Operations through SY 2020-2021 – EXTENSION – #2 (10/14/20)
- Questions and Answers Relating to the Nationwide Waiver to Allow SFSP and SSO Operations through SY 2020-2021 – Q&As #3 (11/2/20)
- Questions and Answers Relating to the Nationwide Waiver to Allow SFSP and SSO Operations through SY 2020-2021 – Q&As #4 (1/5/21)
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program During COVID-19 (4/9/20)
- FFVP During COVID-19: Questions & Answers #2 (4/19/20)
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Operations for SY 2020-2021 During COVID-19 (8/21/20)
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Operations for SY 2020-2021 during COVID-19 (10/23/20)
- Child Nutrition Program Emergency Operating Costs During COVID-19: Implementation Guidance for State Agencies and Q&A (1/26/21)
- Child Nutrition Emergency Operational Costs Reimbursement Programs: State Agency Implementation Plan Template and Q&A Guidance (3/15/21)
- Reimbursement for Meals and Snacks Served to Young Adults in the Child and Adult Care Food Program: Implementation Guidance for State Agencies (4/9/21)
- Questions and Answers Regarding Child Nutrition Program Oversight, Administration, and Reporting During COVID-19 (4/19/21)
- Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 – Effect on Child Nutrition Programs (5/5/21)
- Reimbursement for Meals and Snacks Served to Young Adults in the Child and Adult Care Food Program—Questions and Answers (6/7/21)
- Questions and Answers for Child Nutrition Program Operations in School Year 2021-2022 (6/11/21)
- Previously Issued Questions and Answers Relating to Operation of the Child Nutrition Programs: Updated for School Year 2021-2022 (7/14/21)
- Community Eligibility Provision Operations during School Year 2021-2022: Questions and Answers (7/22/21)
- Child Nutrition Emergency Operational Costs Reimbursement Programs: Q&As #3 (8/11/21)
- Questions and Answers for Child Nutrition Program Reporting in School Year 2021-2022 (9/9/2021)
- Questions and Answers for Child Nutrition Program Operations in School Year 2021-2022, Q&A #2 (9/29/2021)
- Questions and Answers for Child Nutrition Programs Emergency Procurement Due to Supply Chain Disruptions (10/15/2021)
Other Helpful Links
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) website with guidance related to the coronavirus: https://www.fns.usda.gov/programs/fns-disaster-assistance/fns-responds-covid-19/child-nutrition-covid-19-waivers
- FNS documents & resources: https://www.fns.usda.gov/resources?f%5B0%5D=program%3A9088&f%5B1%5D=resource_type%3A160
