​Important Application Information and Due Dates

​SFSP applications are now available in the Cyber-Linked Interactive Child Nutrition System (CLiCS).

• ​Review your SFSP site(s) eligibility using the how to Determine Eligibility of Summer Food Service Program Sites form.

• ​Follow the application instructions on the SFSP Applications webpage to apply.

• ​For guidance on how to complete the SFSP sponsor and site applications, view how to Submit a Summer Food Service Application in CLiCS.

​SFSP Application Due Dates:

​May 1 – New SFSP Sponsor Applications due in CLiCS.

• ​New sponsors are those that did not participate in the SFSP in the prior summer. This includes School Food Authorities (SFAs) switching from the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) to SFSP.

• ​April 1 – Submit a New Applicant Information Form no later than April 1. SFAs do not need to complete this step.

​May 1 – Rural Non-Congregate Applications due in CLiCS.

• ​This includes new or renewing sponsors applying to operate a rural non-congregate site. All rural non-congregate applications are due May 1.

• ​See the new Rural Non-Congregate Application Instructions for Summer Food Service Program for more details.

• ​Rural non-congregate sites require a unique RuralNC site identification (ID) and SFSP application, so please allow sufficient time to process any new RuralNC site IDs to meet the application deadline.

​May 15 – Renewing SFSP Sponsor Applications due in CLiCS.

• ​Renewing sponsors are those that did participate the SFSP in the prior summer.

​June 15 – Last day to submit traditional (congregate) SFSP Site Applications in CLiCS.

• ​Site ID requests for a new site take time to process. Plan ahead to meet the application deadlines of May 1 for new rural non-congregate sites or June 15 for new traditional/on-site (congregate) sites.​

2025 Reimbursement Rates

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the SFSP reimbursement rates for calendar year 2025. To see the rates and more details, view the SFSP Reimbursement Rates 2025.

Training Opportunities

Summer 2025 SFSP training is available online again this year for sponsors and staff to access at any time. Training must be completed prior to the first meal service. The following courses are available on the SFSP Training webpage.

• Civil Rights (MDE-150) – required for all new and renewing applicants

• Sponsors Planning and Administering the SFSP (MDE-178) – required for new applicants

• SFSP Annual Refresher Training 2025 (MDE-179) – required for renewing applicants

• Menu Building Basics – Utilizing Child Nutrition (CN) Labels and USDA Recipes to Build a Cycle Menu (MDE-522) – encouraged for all applicants

• SFSP Meal Planning for Summer Success! (MDE-523) – encouraged for all applicants

Contracts for Vended Meals

Visit the new Child and Adult Care and Summer Food Procurement webpage for procurement information and 2025 new/renewal SFSP vended meal contract templates. If your site receives vended meals, you must upload a fully executed contract into your CLiCS site application before the application can be approved.