Area Eligibility Waiver During COVID-19

This waiver allows Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) to waive the requirement that open sites must be located in areas where at least 50 percent of NSLP participants are eligible for free or reduced price meals. Local Education Agencies (LEAs) that do not meet the 50 percent area eligibility criteria must request for the ability to operate under the authority of this waiver as open sites for the purposes of serving and claiming meals during COVID-19-related school closures. This waiver will automatically qualify any site with 45%, or higher, free reduced price (FRP) eligibility, at any point during the 2018-19 SY or 2019-20 SY, according to claims for reimbursement. If your site is less than 44.9% then you will need to justify, by uploading documentation, the reason why the site should qualify.

Example documentation:

unemployment increase in the area (see Local Area Unemployment Statistics),
need to offer service at additional sites in order to limit the risk of exposure at operating open SSO sites,
increased financial hardship for families in the surrounding area,
need to offer meals at additional sites due to significant increase in meals served.

The completion of this waiver allows LEAs to request approval for up to 8 sites at a time. There is no need to enter information for sites already approved as a "Open" SSO site, but you can apply for approved Closed enrolled sites. If you wish to request approval for more than 8 sites, you will need to complete the waiver once for the first 8 sites, and then again for any sites in addition to these 8.

Question Title

* Agreement Number

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* LEA Name (district or school name)

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, mental or physical disability, or any other basis prohibited by statute in its programs and activities. Inquiries related to department programs and to the location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible by persons with disabilities may be directed to the Jefferson State Office Building, Director of Civil Rights Compliance and MOA Coordinator (Title VI/Title IX/504/ADA/ADAAA/Age Act/GINA/USDA Title VI), 5th Floor, 205 Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480; telephone number 573-526-4757 or TTY 800-735-2966; email civilrights@dese.mo.gov