Summer Food Service Program
What is the Summer Food Service Program?
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) was instituted to
provide nutritious meals to children during the summer months
when school is not in session. The program is funded by the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered
by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Sponsoring organizations include:
- Public or private non-profit local education agencies;
- Entities of state, local, municipal or county government;
- Residential camps; and
- Private non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status.
Who qualifies for participation in the program?
The SFSP is directed towards children in areas of high need.
As part of the application process, sponsors must document
50% eligibility of the area or individual participants they
intend to serve. Eligibility can be determined through:
- Free and reduced-price school lunch statistics,
- State or local government studies plotting low-income
areas,
- Updated census tract data, or
- Individual documentation.
If the service site meets the eligibility criteria, all meals
served to children are eligible for reimbursement. Residential
camps are an exception since they can only claim meals served
to children that qualify through individual documentation.
The SFSP defines a child as anyone 18 years of age or younger
or any person 20 years of age or younger with a mental or
physical disability that attends an ISBE certified school
program during the school year.
How are sponsors reimbursed for meals?
Sponsors are reimbursed at a per-meal rate for eligible
meals they serve. The rate is set each year and consists of
an operating rate and an administrative rate for each meal
type. Payment is made based on the lesser number of meals
served times the applicable rates or actual costs incurred
by the sponsor.
What are the sponsor’s responsibilities for administering
the program?
Responsibilities for the program include:
- Submit an annual application to participate in the program,
- Verify the eligibility of service sites,
- Train all personnel about the SFSP regulatory requirements,
- Offer meals at no cost to children,
- Serve meals that meet the federal meal pattern requirements,
- Take meal counts at point of service,
- Conduct on-site reviews of meal service,
- Submit claims for reimbursement,
- Maintain financial and meal count records to substantiate
claims,
- Accept final financial and administrative responsibility
for all activities associated with the program, and
- Offer all services without regard to race, color, sex,
age, disability or national origin.
How can you apply to become a sponsor?
First year sponsors must attend one of the training sessions
conducted by ISBE staff in March and April of each year. Application
packets are available at that time.
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