Public Notification: Summer Food Service Program Waiver Request

Published on Monday, April 25, 2022

The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) plans on submitting a waiver request to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for flexibility in requirements of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), regarding:

• Utilizing alternative methods for qualifying sites

We are requesting this waiver to provide SFSP flexibility to qualify meal sites using alternative methods for Summer 2022. Previously granted flexibilities related to site eligibility expired on September 30, 2021. If this waiver is granted, RIDE would have the ability to qualify those sites in a designated low-income area in order to maintain access to free, healthy meals for Rhode Island’s children throughout the summer months.

For more information on the program, call the Rhode Island Department of Education, Office of Statewide Efficiencies, Child Nutrition Programs at (401) 222-8701 or (401) 222-4698.