Applications accepted now through March 31, 2026
BATON ROUGE, La.— The Louisiana Department of Education's Division of Nutrition Support is now accepting applications from eligible agencies and organizations to serve as sponsors and program sites for the 2026 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which provides healthy meals to children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, during the summer months when school is not in session.
The federally-funded SFSP is administered on behalf of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the state’s education department. Any child aged 18 or younger, or anyone over the age of 18 who is determined by a state or local educational agency or a local public education agency to be mentally or physically disabled and who participates during the school year in a public or private non-profit school program established for the mentally or physically disabled, may receive meals through the SFSP. The program is held in economically disadvantaged areas, or neighborhoods and communities in which half of the school children are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year. Eligibility may also be determined by census information, via use of site-level Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) information or by use of individual eligibility of children.
Approved sponsors receive financial assistance to help with the cost of obtaining, preparing, and serving food under the program, including administrative costs. Sponsors must be able to provide a capable staff, managerial skills, and food service capabilities. A sponsor may provide its own meals, purchase meals through an agreement with an area school, or contract for meals with a food vendor.
Examples of local organizations that often serve as sponsors include: public or private non-profit schools; local, municipal, parish, tribal or state governments; private non-profits; public or private non-profit camps; and private or non-profit universities or colleges.
To find more information about upcoming training sessions provided by the Louisiana Department of Education, Click Here. From this link, click on “training” to view (and register for) an upcoming training session. Interested parties may register for the February (Prospective New Sponsors) or March (Returning Sponsor) training session on the LA Fit Kids Website provided in this notice (and here). Trainings for the 2026 SFSP will be in-person and conducted by Division of Nutrition Support staff. Following the live trainings, associated slide decks will be posted to the LA Fit Kids Website (under “Training” “Training Slides”) for individuals who wish to view the training after its conclusion.
Potential sponsors must complete training prior to application approval. Applicants will be notified once staff have reviewed applications. To view the application checklist for prospective new sponsoring organizations, please visit the LA Believes Website (clicking on Funding then Federal: Child Nutrition and then scrolling to the section titled “Learn More About Louisiana’s Child Nutrition Programs” to access the SFSP Checklist PDF). The direct link to this checklist is also provided here.
The program is also in need of agencies or organizations that are willing to serve as program sites. The sites are the physical locations where food is served. Each site location must work with an approved program sponsor that is financially and administratively responsible for meeting all program requirements for the applicable meal service type(s) at the site.
Applications are being accepted now through March 31, 2026 from those who wish to participate in the 2026 Summer Food Service Program.
For more information on this program, contact the Department’s Division of Nutrition Support at 1-877-453-2721 or (225) 342-9661. Individuals may also contact Division of Nutrition Support Staff via email at the following email address: [email protected].
Nondiscrimination Statement effective 7/9/25:
In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
3. Email: [email protected].
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.