​COVID-19 Child Nutrition Programs 

Key Information

• Superintendent of Maryland Public Schools, Dr. Karen Salmon, who is now retired, with the consent of the State Board of Education, ordered public schools to close effective March 13, 2020, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency. On March 25, 2020, Dr. Salmon and The Board extended the temporary school closures until April 24, 2020.  On April 17, 2020 school closures were extended until May 15, 2020.
• The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs (OSCNP) and Maryland schools and sponsors are committed to continuing meal service for children and teens during the temporary school closures.
• Maryland schools and agencies are offering free 'Grab-N-Go' meals, in a non-congregate setting through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
  

Waivers

The Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs of the Maryland State Department of Education submitted a waiver request to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office of the USDA requesting a statewide waivers detailed below.

Definitions

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP); Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP); School Breakfast Program (SBP); National School Lunch Program (NSLP); Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

Waiver Requests

​Date Waiver Submitted	​Child Nutrition Program(s) Affected	​Specific Program Requirements Requested to be Waived	​Purpose of Waiver	​Status
​March 9, 2020	​SFSP	​7 CFR 225.6(e)(15)	​Allow non-congregate meal service	​National Waiver Issued
​March 14, 2020	​SFSP	​7CFR 225.16 (3)(i)(ii)	​Allow service of up to three meals and one snack each day	​Denied
​March 18, 2020	SFSP	​7CFR 225.5 (a)(b)(c)	​Reduce site eligbility to at least 40% qualifying for free or reduced meals	​Approved
​March 20, 2020	​SFSP	​7CFR 225.16 (d)(1)(2)(3)	​Allow for variation in meal pattern requirements in the event of supply chain disruption or limited product availability	​National Waiver Issued
​March 24, 2020	​SFSP	​7 CFR 225.6(e)(15)	​Allow parent and/or guaridan pick up of meals for child(ren)	​National Waiver Issued
​March 29, 2020	​SFSP	​7CFR 225.5 (a)(b)(c)	​Reduce site eligbility to at least 30% qualifying for free or reduced meals	​Approved
​May 8, 2020	​FFVP	​​Section 19(a) NSLA(42 USC 1769a)	​Allow parent and/or guardian pick up of FFVP for child(ren)	​Approved
​June 4, 2020	​SFSP	​7 CFR 225.2;  7 CFR 225.6(c)(3)(i)(B);  7 CFR 225.14(c)(3);  7 CFR 225.6(c)(2)(i)(G);  7 CFR 225.6(d)(1)(i);  7 CFR 225.16(b)(4)(c)	​Request an extention of the March 18, 2020 waiver submission	​Approved
​June 15, 2020	​CACFP, NSLP	​7 CFR 226.17a(b)(i-iii)	​Allow service of At-Risk meals during summer	​Denied
​June 23, 2020	​NSLP, SBP	​7 CFR 210.18	​Allow for a 5-year Administrative Review Cycle	​Approved
​July 22, 2020	​NSLP, SBP	​7 CFR 210.10(a)(1)(i);  7 CFR 220.8(a)(1)	​Waive the requirement of potable water availability	​Denied
​July 24, 2020	​SFSP	​7 CFR 225.16(d)(1)(2)(3).	​Allow for variation in meal pattern requirements in the event of supply chain disruption or limited product availability	​National Waiver Issued
​July 28, 2020	​NSLP, SBP	7 ​CFR 210.30; 235.11(g)	​Waive required number of annual training hours for staff	​Denied
​August 5, 2020	​CACFP, NSLP	​Section 17(r)(2)(B);  17(a)(2)(C);  42 U.S.C. 1766(r)(2)(B);  42 U.S.C.1766(a)(2)(C);  7 CFR 210.10(o)(1)(ii);  7 CFR 226.17a(b)(1)(ii) and (iii)	​Waive activity requirement for afterschool meals	Denied
​August 13, 2020	​NSLP, SBP	​7 CFR 210.10 (c)(1);  7 CFR 210.10 (f)(1-4);  7 CFR 220.8 (c)(1);  7 CFR 220.8 (f)(1-4)	​Waive requirement of age/grade meal pattern requirements	​Covered under existing waiver
​August 19, 2020	​FFVP	​Section 19(a) NSLA(42 USC 1769a)	​Allow for non-congregate service	Approved
​August 19, 2020	​FFVP	​7 CFR 225.6(e)(15)	​Extension of previously approved waiver for non-congreagate meal service	Approved
​August 19, 2020	​SFSP	​7 CFR 225.2;  7 CFR 225.6(c)(2)(i)(G);  7 CFR 225.6(c)(3)(i)(B);  7 CFR 225.6(d)(1)(i);  7 CFR 225.14(c)(3);  7 CFR 225.16(b)(4)	​Extension of previously approved waiver for area eligibility	​National Waiver Issued
​August 19, 2020	​SFSP	​7 CFR 225.6(e)(15)	​Allow parent and/or guaridan meal pick up for child(ren)	​National Waiver Issued
​August 20, 2020	​FFVP	​Section 19(a) NSLA(42 USC 1769a)	​Allow for FFVP service at non-elementay schools	Approved
​April 1, 2021	​SFSP	7 CFR 225.2 and 225.7 (d)(l)(i)	​Sponsors that Successfully Participated in the Summer Food Service Program in FY 2019 to Operate as Experienced Sponsors in FY 2021	​National Waiver Issued
​June 24, 2021	​FFVP	​Section 19(a) NSLA(42 USC 1769a)	​Allow parent and/or guardian pick up of FFVP for child(ren)	​Approved
​ 2022 SFSP Waivers and School Year 2022-2023 Waivers​ ​ ​
​​Date Waiver Submitted	​Child Nutrition Program(s) Affected	​​Specific Program Requirements Requested to be Waived	​​Purpose of Waiver	​Status
​March 14, 2022	​SFSP	7 CFR 225.15 (d)(2)	​Waive first-week site visit requirement	Approved
​​March 14, 2022	SFSP​	​7 CFR 225.15 (f) and 42U.S.C. 1761(a)(1)(A)(i)(III)	Waive requirements income eligibility for closed enrolled site	​Approved
​​March 14, 2022	​SFSP	​7 CFR 225.16(f)(1)(ii) and 42U.S.C.1761 (f)(7)	​Allows all sponsors to implement offer versus serve using the SFSP meal pattern	Approved
​​March 14, 2022	​SFSP	​7 CFR 225.16(c)(1) and (c)(2)	​Waive meal service timing requirements	Approved
​April 22, 2022	​NSLP, SBP	Sections 11(a)(1)(F)(iii)(I)(bb), (a)(1)(F)(iv)(I)(bb), (a)(1)(F)(v)(I), and (a)(1)(F)(v)(II)(bb) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA), 42 U.S.C. 1759a, 7 CFR 245.9(f)(3)(i), (f)(4)(i), (f)(4)(v)(A), (f)(4)(viii), and (f)(4)(ix)	Extends the date for LEAs to calculate the identified student percentage (ISP) from April 1, 2022, to June 1, 2022.	​Approved
​April 22, 2022	​NSLP, SBP	​​Section 11(a)(1)(F)(x)(I) of the NSLA, 42 U.S.C. 1759a, 7 CFR 245.9(f)(4)(i)	​Extends the deadline for LEAs to elect CEP to August 31, 2022.	​Approved
May 17, 2022	​NSLP, SBP, SFSP, CACFP	​Click this document to view specific program requirements requested to be waived	To provide ​flexibilities in the the Child Nutrition Programs when operations are limited by the COVID-19 pandemic.	Approved
​June 8, 2022	​SFSP	​7CFR 225.6(e)(15)	​Permits non-congregate meal service for outdoor sites experiencing excessive heat.	​Approved
​November 3, 2022	​NSLP, SBP, SFSP	​42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(1)(A); 42 U.S.C. 1761(a)(1)(D) and 7 CFR 225.6(e)(15); 7 CFR 210.10(a), 220.2 (Breakfast), 220.8(a), 225.2 (Meals), 225.9(d)(7) and 42 U.S.C. 1761(f)(3); 42 U.S.C.1761(c)(1) and 7 CFR 225.6(d)(1)(iv); 42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(1)(A) and 42 U.S.C. 1773(b)(1)(A) and 7 CFR 210.10(a), 220.2 (breakfast), and 220.8(a); 7 CFR 210.10(l) and 220.8(l); 42 U.S.C. 1758(a)(3) and 7 CFR 210.10(e)	​Allow non-congregate meal service, parent/guardian meal pick-up, and meal service time flexibilities in instances of unanticipated school closures.	​Approved
​​2023 SFSP Waivers				​
​​​Date Waiver Submitted	​Child Nutrition Program(s) Affected	​​Specific Program Requirements Requested to be Waived	​​Purpose of Waiver	​​Status
​March 7, 2023	​SFSP	​May 1, 2023 compliance date published in the Streamlining Program Requirements and Improving Integrity in the SFSP Final Rule	​Extending the implementation date to January 1, 2024	​Approved

Data Summaries

​Click the document below to view the historical summary

​​Click the document below to view the historical summary

Previous Weekly Summaries

Highlights

Governor Hogan honors School Lunch Heros in a statewide proclamation.  On May 2, 2020, Governor Hogan issued a proclamation honoring Maryland's child nutrition staff for their continued steadfast commitment and innovation to provide nutritious meals for all children during the regular school year as well as during school closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.

Evaluation of COVID-19 School Meals Response

• COVID-19 SCHOOL MEALS RESPONSE: SPRING 2020