CACFP Waiver Allowing One Offsite Monitoring Visit for Sponsors of Day Care Home Providers - August 31, 2026 – Status: PENDING – TDA is requesting from USDA the discretion to allow CACFP day care home sponsors in good standing to conduct one offsite monitoring review of providers in good standing. As in previous years, if approved, sponsors must submit a waiver request form and a management plan for conducting offsite visits, or update their existing management plans, if applicable. Sponsors approved last year for this waiver that did not submit required reports or had the waiver rescinded at any point are not eligible to use this waiver in PY 2027.
SY 2026-2027 Prospective Waiver Allowing Non-Congregate Service during Unanticipated School/Facility Closures - June 8, 2026 – Status: APPROVED – TDA is requesting from USDA the discretion to allow School Food Authorities (SFAs) and CACFP operators to operate a non-congregate service during unanticipated school/facility closures due to natural disasters, unscheduled major building repairs, court orders relating to building safety or other issues, labor-management disputes, or, when approved by TDA, for a similar unanticipated cause. If approved, TDA can approve area eligible SFAs in good standing to operate the Summer Food Service Program, Seamless Summer Option, or CACFP At-risk at the school site or a non-school site. Schools implementing virtual instruction during the closure may be eligible to operate a non-congregate NSLP service. CACFP operators in good standing may be approved to serve non-congregate meals under their current CACFP program. If approved, non-congregate service will be approved for up to 10 days. TDA will develop and post to SquareMeals a request form for contracting organizations facing an unanticipated closure.
Summer 2026 Prospective Waiver Allowing Non-Congregate Service during Extreme Heat and/or Poor Air Quality Conditions - March 23, 2026 – Status: APPROVED – TDA is requesting the discretion to allow SFSP and SSO sponsors, in good standing, to operate outdoor meal sites without temperature-controlled alternative sites as non-congregate sites 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 where the site is located, and/or
- When the area is experiencing an Air Quality Index (AQI) that reaches a “purple” flag level or higher, as indicated at https://www.airnow.gov/.
If approved, TDA will provide additional information on how to access the Extreme Heat/Poor Air Quality Notification Form.