School Breakfast Program & Summer Food Service Program Outreach
Each local educational agency that participates in the National School Lunch Program is required to participate in outreach for the Summer Food Service Program and if participating, the School Breakfast Program (SBP) during different times of the school year. The overall goal is to increase participation in both programs, with stated emphasis on increasing the participation of those in need. A successful program requires the support of the entire school community. Below you can find some guidance as well as tools to continue to increase participation in both of these programs.
School Breakfast Program (SBP)
School Breakfast Program (SBP)
Regulations
Schools participating in the SBP must inform families that breakfast is available. A notification of the availability of breakfast must be sent just prior to or at the beginning of the school year in the informational packets that are sent to each household with free and reduced price meal applications. In addition, schools should send reminders regarding the SBP multiple times throughout the school year.
Schools can provide reminders to children through their public address systems in schools or through means normally used to communicate with the households of enrolled children. Other acceptable outreach activities may include developing and sending printed or electronic material to families and school children. For example, information about the SBP should be posted on the school’s website.
Resources:
More details are available on our Meal and Snack Requirement webpage. Please review the School Breakfast Program section
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
Regulations
School Food Authorities (SFAs) must inform families of the availability and location of free SFSP meals for students when school is not in session. Please note: even if your site is not participating in the program, you are still required to provide outreach. Participating site locations can be found on USDA’s Site Locator or by texting the word FOOD to 877-877.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. I do not serve meals in the summer. Is this required for me?
Yes. You are required to ensure that eligible families are informed of the availability and location of summer meals. Please visit USDA’s Site Locator or text the word FOOD to 877-877 to see where SFSP meals are served in your area. If there are no feeding sites within a reasonable distance from your schools/where your students live, a best practice would be to provide families with information about local resources where they may be able to get food assistance (local food banks, etc.).
2. I am operating the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) for a few weeks in the summer and it will be at closed enrolled sites for children enrolled in a day camp. If I promote this program, is there anything else I need to do?
If you are not operating for the whole summer or if you are only operating as a close-enrolled site for SSO, you will need to provide families information of the availability and location of summer meals that will serve meals beyond the dates that you are serving, and that are open to all children.
Resources:
More details are available on our Summer Food Service Program Webpage.
