Summer Food Service Program / SUN Meals · Montana
Montana SFSP and SUN Meals — State Agency, Sponsor Requirements, and Summer Meal Rules
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), branded federally as SUN Meals, provides free meals to eligible children age 18 and under when school is out. In Montana, SFSP is administered by Montana Office of Public Instruction, School Nutrition Programs. Below is the state agency contact, general federal sponsor and site categories, and standard federal meal-pattern references. Use the official agency page for current state-specific application, training, and site-approval instructions.
Montana SFSP State Agency
- Agency
- Montana Office of Public Instruction
- Division
- School Nutrition Programs
- Phone
- (406) 444-2501
- Official SFSP page
- https://opi.mt.gov/Leadership/Academic-Success/School-Nutrition/Summer-Food-Service-Program
- FNS Region
- Mountain Plains Regional Office — USDA FNS Mountain Plains
Who Can Sponsor SFSP in Montana
The following organizations may apply to OPI to become an SFSP sponsor in Montana:
- Public or private nonprofit school food authorities running summer meals at Montana school sites.
- Units of local, municipal, county, or tribal government including parks, recreation departments, and libraries.
- Private nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community-based groups, meeting SFSP financial and administrative standards.
- Public or private nonprofit residential and day camps. At an approved camp site, reimbursement is limited to meals served to children individually eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.
- Public or private nonprofit universities and colleges running upward bound or similar programs.
Site Eligibility for Montana Summer Meal Sites
The state agency approves each site under the applicable federal and state criteria. An open site generally uses approved area data showing that at least 50% of children are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. Other site classifications can include:
- Closed enrolled sites serving a defined group of enrolled children when at least half of them would qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
- Migrant sites primarily serving children of migrant workers.
- Camp sites, where only meals served to children individually eligible for free or reduced-price meals may be claimed.
- Rural non-congregate sites where current SUN Meals To-Go requirements are met and the state agency approves the site.
How to Apply as a Montana SFSP Sponsor
Application windows, systems, training schedules, and requested documents vary by administering agency and season. Use the official agency page and contact information above for the current process.
- Review the current sponsor instructions and application window published by OPI.
- Ask the agency whether your organization would be a new or returning sponsor and which training and application materials apply.
- Submit information through the method the agency specifies, including only the plans, records, and agreements it requires.
- Identify Montana site locations and document the applicable eligibility classification, such as open, closed enrolled, camp, migrant, or rural non-congregate.
- Obtain required sponsor and site approvals before serving or claiming SFSP meals.
SFSP Meal Pattern for Montana Summer Meal Sites
The standard federal SFSP quantities shown below are designed for children ages 6 through 12. Authorized alternatives and portion adjustments can apply: school food authorities may use the school meal-program patterns after notifying the state agency; a state agency may authorize age-appropriate CACFP quantities for younger children, with additional approval for infants; and sponsors may serve larger portions to ages 12 through 18. Confirm the pattern approved for each site before service.
| Meal | Required components |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | 1 cup milk · 1/2 cup vegetable, fruit, or full-strength juice · 1 serving of grains or bread · optional meat/meat alternate |
| Lunch or Supper | 1 cup milk · 2 oz meat/meat alternate · 3/4 cup combined vegetables and fruits from two or more sources · 1 serving of grains or bread |
| Snack (2 of 4) | Choose 2 of: 1 cup milk, 1 oz meat/meat alternate, 3/4 cup vegetable/fruit/juice, 1 serving grains or bread |
Source: 7 CFR 225.16, the USDA FNS SFSP meal-pattern chart, and USDA's age-specific SFSP guidance.
Need year-round meals in Montana?
SFSP only runs while school is out. For year-round child care, Head Start, afterschool, and adult day care meals in Montana, see the Montana CACFP state page.
Prepare SFSP menu drafts for your Montana summer sites
CrEATe helps you build summer meal drafts, review configured meal-pattern gaps, and prepare production-record and meal-count drafts. Confirm final requirements and formats with your sponsor and the Montana state agency.