Reauthorization
Reauthorization of the Child Nutrition and WIC Programs
was signed into law and implemented a number of changes. Some are effective
immediately. Most of the changes affected the school nutrition programs
rather than the Child & Adult Care Food Program or Summer Food Service
Program. Changes outlined in this first note are effective now.
1 - Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program While the law
establishes fresh fruit and vegetable as a program rather than a pilot
project, the number of states and schools funded remains somewhat limited. We
were delighted to learn that schools in the area governed by Oglala Sioux
Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation were included in the bill.
2 School Breakfast Program - Severe Need - paperwork
reduction. Schools that served 40% free and reduced price lunches in the
second prior year can now claim the higher rate of reimbursement (severe need)
without having to complete the cost justification. Agencies with eligible
sites will be contacted to advise them of the higher rate.
3 Duration of Eligibility of Free/Reduced Price Meals
Approved applications for free and reduced price meals are good for the whole
school year for school lunch, school breakfast, and special milk program.
Formerly, families who had been approved were to report if their income
changed by $50/month.
4 Categorical Eligibility of migrant, runaway, and
homeless youth this is an additional categorical eligibility for free meals
for all programs for children who are known to fit in one of these
categories.
5 Permanent Exclusion of Privatized Military Housing
Allowances Makes permanent an exclusion which had been previously
implemented through policy.
6 Seamless Summer Makes permanent and renames what
was formerly called summer waiver or Alisal waiver. This allows schools
that would be eligible for the Summer Food Service Program to continue on the
school nutrition programs throughout the summer.
7 Proprietary Centers in CACFP Makes permanent an
allowance which had been previously implemented through policy. Allows
proprietary centers to participate in CACFP if they meet certain criteria of
income levels.
8 Emergency Shelters Raises the age limit from 12 to
18 for children whose meals can be claimed for reimbursement in emergency
shelters.
9 Special Provision 2 and 3 In NSLP and SBP, schools
that participate in the NSLP/SBP can use district-wide percentages to
calculate the claim for reimbursement.
10 Pilot States to End Reduce Price Meal Category
Last but by no means least in this first assessment of Reauthorization is that
5 states will be authorized to eliminate the reduced price category. The
states have not been named. This goes to show that all the work that schools
and their partners did last year to bring this to attention of Congress was
worthwhile. It definitely received their attention.
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