USDA Approves Statewide Waivers to Serve Meals in Non-Congregate Settings to Participants Fasting During Ramadan

The Historic Ramadan Waiver

In February 2025, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s (OSPI) statewide waiver request to allow local Program operators to serve meals in a non-congregate setting to participants fasting during Ramadan.

Under the waiver approval, OSPI’s local Program operators may serve meals in a non-congregate setting, adjust the time of meal service, and senior high schools are not required to use offer versus serve for lunch during Ramadan.

Waiver Flexibilities

• Non-Congregate Feeding

  • This waiver allows meals to be eaten off-site.

• Meal Service Time

  • This waiver allows the service of multiple program meals together (i.e., breakfast and lunch) and meal service outside of time restrictions.

• Serve Only Meal Service Style for Senior High Schools

  • This waiver allows sponsors to use a serve-only meal service style for grades 9–12.

  • May be implemented for NSLP/SBP only.

Examples of Participating Schools

With the ease of requesting non-congregate meals, school districts across the country are offering to-go meals for fasting students during the month of Ramadan.

Participating districts include:

• San Diego Unified (CA)

• Garden Grove Unified (CA)

• Anaheim Unified (CA)

• Fullerton School District (CA)

• Dearborn Public Schools (MN)

• Bethlehem Central School District (NY)

• Edison Township Public Schools (NJ)

• Worcester Public Schools (MA)

• Corona-Norco Unified (CA)

• Saint Paul Public Schools (MN)

• Hicksville Public Schools (NY)

• Farmington Area Public Schools (MN)