The Seamless Summer Option (SSO) is federally-funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and state-administered by the Vermont Agency of Education Child Nutrition Programs. It is part of the suite of School Meals Programs. The requirements are a combination of the School Meals Program and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
The program is an option for School Food Authorities (SFAs) to provide meals to children, 18 and under, at sites during summer vacation, and for year-round schools, during school vacation periods longer than 10 school days.
Sites may be school or non-school locations.
Program Guidance
- SP 22-2021 Questions and Answers for Child Nutrition Program Operations in School Year 2021-2022, Q&A #2
- SP 09-2017 2017 Edition of Questions and Answers for the National School Lunch Program’s Seamless Summer Option
- SP 10-2017, SFSP 06-2017 Meal Service Requirements in the Summer Meal Programs, with Questions and Answers- Revised
- Comparison of Programs SFSP/NSLP/Seamless Summer Option
- SP 15-2021, CACFP 13-2021, SFSP 08-2021 Questions and Answers for Child Nutrition Program Operations in School Year 2021-2022
Monitoring
Each year, SFAs are required to review each SSO sites at least once during its operation. The SFA must review the site’s compliance with meal counting, claiming, menu planning, and food safety requirements.
Training
Seamless Summer Option (SSO) School Year 2021-2022 Training
Resources
School Year 2021-2022 Waivers
- COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #85 Nationwide Waiver to Allow the Seamless Summer Option through School Year 2021-2022, allows SSO when school is open during the regular school year, effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022
- COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #86 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program Reimbursement Rates in School Year 2021-2022, allows SFSP reimbursement rates in SSO, effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022
- COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #90 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Specific School Meal Pattern Flexibility for School Year 2021-2022, effective October 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, sponsors may request the following flexibilities:
- Sodium requirements
- Whole grain-rich
- For preschoolers that at least one serving be whole grain-rich
- Vegetable subgroups
- Milk choice
- Low-fat milk be unflavored
- Age/grade group requirements
- COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #87 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Non-Congregate Meal Service for School Year 2021-2022, effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022
- COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #88 Nationwide Waiver of Meal Time Requirements for School Year 2021-2022, effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022
- COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #89 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals for Children for School Year 2021-2022, effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022
- COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #92 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Offer Versus Serve Flexibility for Senior High Schools in School Year 2021-2022, effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022
- COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #94 Nationwide Waiver on Onsite Monitoring Requirements in the School Meal Programs – Revised – EXTENSION 3, allows State agencies to conduct off-site reviews and SFAs to conduct off-site monitoring, remains in effect until 30 days after the end of the public health emergency as declared by the United States Department of Health and Human Services