Questions & Answers

Who is qualified to become a SFSP Sponsor?

• A public or private non-profit school food authority
• A public or private non-profit residential private camp
• A public or private non-profit college or university participating in the National Youth Sports Program
• A unit of local, county, municipal, State or Federal government
• Any other type of private non-profit organization
  All Sponsors must be tax exempt and must demonstrate the administrative and financial ability to manage a food service effectively. In addition, most sponsors must provide a year-round public service to the area in which they intend to provide the SFSP.

How many sites can I operate?

All sponsors may be approved for a maximum of 200 sites and a maximum total average daily attendance at all sites of 50,000 children. The State agency may approve exceptions if the sponsor can demonstrate that it has the capabilities of managing a program larger than these limits.

What are the different types of sites?

Open Site – Site where meals are available for any child 18 years of age or younger in the area.

Restricted Open – Initially open to any child in an area, but due to safety and security concerns, the sponsor may limit attendance.

Closed Enrolled – a site which is open only to the children enrolled, as opposed to the community at large, and in which at least 50% of the enrolled children at the site are eligible for free or reduced price school meals under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program

How do I know if a site qualifies for the SFSP?

Open or Restricted Open Sites

School Data:
Contact your local school district and request the free and reduced price data for the area in which you wish to serve. Usually, this data provides the most current-year data and shows the area’s current economic circumstances.

Census Data:
Sponsors may decide to document the area eligibility of their prospective sites on the basis of census data. It is encouraged however, to use school data rather than census data because it is more current, and more accurately represents current neighborhood economic conditions.

Closed Enrolled Sites

Sponsors can document an enrolled site’s eligibility by:

• Obtaining lists of names and eligibility status of enrolled children for free and reduced price meals from schools where the children receive school lunch or breakfast;
• Asking the parent or guardian of the enrolled children to complete and income eligibility form. At least 50% of the enrolled children must be from households that meet the income eligibility guidelines.
• Using “area” eligibility data for the location of the site, rather than using the income eligibility form documenting that at least half of the enrolled children at each site are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. (This option is not available for camps).

How many meals can a site serve each day?

A site may serve up to two meals services at any one site. Residential camps and migrant sites may serve up to three meals each day with State agency approval.

What do I need to do to apply to participate in the SFSP?

Contact the State agency or complete and fax the prospective sponsor form to 850-617-7403.