|
USDA Policy Memos, from USDA, are located at the bottom!
 |
|
2025 Lucky Month Trivia!
Why are greens such as kale, cabbage and collard greens considered lucky?
Answer: found within the bulletin, below!
|
|
School Meals Program Reminders:
Claims - Submit claim data online through the CNP Web Database by:
- January Claim Month - 60 Day Deadline, April 1, 2025
-
February Claim Month - 60 Day Deadline, April 29, 2025
- The final claim will not be accepted if it is not in the Pending Approval status by the 60-Day claim deadline (see below). Upward amended claims may be submitted throughout the 60-day period but no later than the 60-Day deadline. Be aware, claims in Error status cannot be paid and if help is needed from Child Nutrition the sponsor must contact Child Nutrition well in advance of the 60-Day Deadline.
ISNL Cohort - School Meals Program ISNL Cohort, April 8, 2025 @ 2:30 PM
Roundtable - School Meals Program Roundtable, April 9, 2025 @ 2:00 PM
School Meals Program Updates:
Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines (2025-2026)-
Federal Register Link: Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines (2025-2026)
FNS website link: Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines (2025-2026)
96059d6259296e
This information will soon be added to DEED's web page; in the meantime, it is publicly accessible from the links above.
The Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines are to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced-price meals, free milk, and Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer benefits for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. These guidelines are used by schools, institutions, and facilities participating in the National School Lunch Program (and Commodity School Program), School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. The guidelines are also used by the states and Indian tribal organizations that administer the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program.
Alaska Food Protection Task Force Workshop Presentations are Available
A Food Protection Task Force workshop was held on February 3 and 4, 2025. The presentation videos and slides (if available) are now posted on their website, where you can also find links to the presenters’ organizations and resources that were discussed during the workshop. Here is the link to workshop page:
2025 Alaska Food Protection Task Force Educational Workshop
USDA - Food and Nutrition Services (FNS)
Comment Period Closes March 26, 2025, for Request for Information: Grain-Based Desserts and High-Protein Yogurt Crediting in Child Nutrition Programs
The request for information was published December 26, 2024, at Request for Information: Grain-Based Desserts and High-Protein Yogurt Crediting in Child Nutrition Programs to obtain input to help inform future policymaking, guidance, and technical assistance related to grain-based desserts and high-protein yogurt crediting in Child Nutrition Programs (CNP).
FNS hosted an informational webinar on January 28, 2025, on the Zoom platform. We invite you to view the webinar recording and PDF of slides.
The public is invited to submit comments to: www.regulations.gov.
Additional Resources:
Comment Period Closes March 24, 2025, for Request for Information: Child Nutrition Programs Tribal Pilot Projects
The request for information was published December 23, 2024, to obtain input to help inform the application process, and eligibility and selection criteria, for the Child Nutrition Tribal Pilot Projects.
Comments may be submitted by either of the following methods:
- Mail: Send comments to School Meals Policy Division, Child Nutrition Programs, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314.
For more information on submitting comments, please see Tips for Submitting Effective Comments here: Tips-For-Submitting-Effective-Comments.pdf. (Please note this is a Federal Register resource and not an FNS resource.)
|
SNA NEWS - links below brought to you by School Nutrition Association
SNF ANC25 scholarship application period is now open!
This year, the School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) is awarding forty-five scholarships to SNA members to help them offset the costs of attending SNA’s 2025 Annual National Conference (ANC25) in San Antonio, TX. Deadline for all applications is March 28. View Scholarships: here
Answer: Greens are considered lucky, because their green color resembles money, and it is believed the more greens you eat the more wealth you will attract. Greens are a delicious way to fill up on nutrients while also inviting prosperity, a healthy tradition that adds a fresh start to any celebration.
Resources
CHILD NUTRITION (CN) LABEL
The Child Nutrition (CN) Labeling Manual is available online. CN labels are approved by USDA and provide a way for a manufacturer to demonstrate how a processed food product contributes to the meal pattern requirements in Child Nutrition Programs CNP. The CN Labeling Manual provides food manufacturers with instructions on how to apply for and obtain approval for a Child Nutrition (CN) label. It also contains instructions for calculating the contribution that meats, meat alternates, poultry, and seafood products make toward the meal pattern requirements for (CNP).
CHILD NUTRITION SHARING SITE
Child Nutrition Sharing Site (CNSS) - recruiting new resources.
FOOD BUYING GUIDE (FBG)
The Food Buying Guide includes CNP interactive web-based tools that are available in the Tools menu option on the toolbar.
ICN's E-learning
iLearn – ICN E-learning (docebosaas.com)
|
ICN's CICN TRAINING SECTION
The Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition (CICN) training section, is great for schools wanting to scratch cook or gain additional culinary skills: https://theicn.org/cicn/
|
|
 |
SNA TRAINING ZONE
Check out SNA's on-demand webinars
Find educational content and earn CEU credits to achieve your professional goals with the SNA Training Zone!
TEAM NUTRITION
Sign up to receive Team Nutrition updates in English and in Spanish.
|
USDA POLICY MEMOS
Regulation requires sponsoring organizations and institutions to keep Bulletins, Instructions, and USDA Policy Memorandums for reference and to apply immediately the appropriate instruction to agency programs. Please call Child Nutrition Programs, if further clarification is needed.
All Policy Memos from USDA can be located here:
SP 09-2025 Buy American Accommodation Process for School Year 2025-2026
SP 08-2025 Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas: Questions and Answers #3
SP 07-2025 Requirement to Accept Medical Statements from Registered Dietitians for Schools
SP 06-2025 National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grants: Installation Expenditure
SP 05-2025 Guidance for Accepting Processed Product Documentation for Meal Pattern Requirements
SP 04-2025 Fees for Electronic Payment Services in the School Meal Programs
SP 03-2025 Substituting Vegetables for Grains in American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Tribal Communities
SP 02-2025 Substitution of Vegetables for Fruit Flexibility in the School Breakfast Program: Questions and Answers for Program Operators
SP 01-2025 Fluid Milk Requirements for School Meals
Contact Us
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Division of Finance and Support Services
Child Nutrition Programs
P.O. Box 110500
Juneau, AK 99811
Disclaimer
This newsletter contains hyperlinks to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the reader’s convenience. DEED does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Furthermore, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.
Confidential Information
Confidential information should never be shared via email outside of the SFA’s email system. Since email can easily be transmitted to the wrong recipient or intercepted by a third party, it could lead to a breach of confidential information. When emailing Alaska Child Nutrition Programs, sponsors are encouraged to make arrangements with the recipient(s) to email documents with Zend To (https://drop.state.ak.us/drop/). Please contact DEED CNP for further information.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement (English)
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
|
