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Wisconsin Child Nutrition Programs


 

Welcome to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Community Nutrition, School Nutrition, and Team Nutrition Home Page. Staff members provide nutrition information and program guidance to sponsors of the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program, Special Milk Program, USDA Foods Program among others. The Teams are also responsible for a variety of nutrition education initiatives that involve collaboration with other state agencies, UW-Extension, and regional and statewide child nutrition advocacy groups.

 

Wisconsin Statewide Waivers

Public Notification of Waiver Requests

Prospective Waivers for Non-Congregate for Unanticipated School Closures (NSLP, SBP, SFSP, SSO, CACFP (at-risk only)

To waive regulatory provisions of NSLP, SBP, SFSP, SSO and CACFP (at-risk afterschool component only) to allow non-congregate meals service, parent and guardian meal pick up, meal service times, and service of meals at schools during unanticipated school closures due to natural disasters, unscheduled major building repairs, court orders relating to school safety or other issues, labor-management disputes, or, when approved by the DPI, for a similar unanticipated cause.

Requested for all SFSP and SSO sponsors due to unanticipated school closures (school buildings are closed with no virtual learning). These waivers are effective October 1, 2023, through April 30, 2024. Update: 3/7/24 Waivers approved for SFSP and SSO effective date was extended through June 30, 2024.

Requested for all NSLP, SBP, CACFP (at-risk afterschool component only) (school buildings are closed with virtual learning). These waivers are effective through June 30, 2024.

If your agency is experiencing unanticipated school closures, please reach out to us at dpi.fns@dpi.wi.gov.

Waiver for Summer Food Service Program to Offer Versus Serve for Non-School Food Authority (SFA) Sponsors

This waiver allows non-school food authority (SFA) SFSP sponsors, in good standing, to use SFSP offer versus serve (OVS) meal service parameters on a case-by-case basis and only for congregate sites. This waiver is effective May 1, 2024, through September 30, 2024. To apply for this waiver, select the meals that OVS will be available on the Site Application page of the SFSP contract.

Waivers for Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) Operations During Periods of Excessive Heat

The waivers in the section allow SFSP and SSO sponsors, in good standing, to operate approved outdoor meal sites without temperature-controlled alternative sites as non-congregate sites on days when the area is experiencing excessive heat. The waivers include non-congregate meal service, parent and guardian meal pick-up, and meal service times. These waivers may only be used on days when the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Heat Advisory, an Excessive Heat Warning, or an Excessive Heat Watch for the area in which an approved outdoor meal site is located. These waivers are effective May 1, 2024, through September 30, 2024.

Please contact the sfsp@dpi.wi.gov if interested in using these waivers.

Waivers for Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) Operations During Periods of Air Quality Advisories

The waivers in this section allow SFSP and SSO sponsors, in good standing, to operate approved outdoor meal sites without alternative indoor sites as non-congregate sites on days when the area is experiencing certain air quality advisories. The waivers include non-congregate meal service, parent and guardian meal pick-up, and meal service times. The threshold for determining when these waivers can be used is based on metrics developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), which are designed to help determine when to move activities indoors. Using these metrics, which equate to very unhealthy or hazardous air quality, sites may be approved for non-congregate meal service on days when the site’s zip code has an Air Quality Index (AQI) “purple” flag or higher, as indicated at https://www.airnow.gov/.For days when air quality is a concern, but the purple flag threshold is not met, FNS recommends sponsors with outdoor sites consider the outdoor activity guidance developed by the EPA and the CDC: https://www.airnow.gov/activity-guides-publications/. These waivers are effective May 1, 2024, through September 30, 2024.

Please contact the sfsp@dpi.wi.gov if interested in using these waivers.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

2. fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

3. email:
program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

05/2022