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School Meals Program

June 2025 

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USDA Policy Memos, from USDA, are located at the bottom!

2025 Food Fact Trivia! What condiment was historically used as a medicine? Answer: found within the bulletin, below!

School Meals Program Reminders: 

Claims - Submit claim data online through the CNP Web Database by: 

• April Claim Month - 60 Day Deadline, June 29, 2025
• May Claim Month - 60 Day Deadline, July 30, 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.

School Nutrition Program Monthly Call, June 11, 2025 @ 2:00 PM.

Link: Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 232 011 359 232 3

Passcode: g2HL9W2g

There will be no monthly call in July, but we will resume in August.

Staff Updates

• Rachel Negron is the new Education Associate for NSLP & SBP! We are so excited she has joined the team! Please give her a warm welcome.

Reminder regarding contact information

As a reminder, all emails regarding school nutrition programs should be directed to eed.cnp.schoolmeals@alaska.gov.  Emails sent to other mailboxes may not receive a timely response.

For other program contacts, see the list at the end of this email.

Community Eligibility Provision Elections, Paid Lunch Equity, and Summer Training, OH MY!

Community Eligibility Provision Elections: Schools wishing to elect a NEW Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) cycle for a school, group of schools, or all schools in their district must submit an election notification by 30 June 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Instructions were emailed to each district with their district Identified Student Percentage data and instructions to submit.  If you did not receive this email, please email EED.CNP.SchoolMeals@alaska.gov to request a copy.

You must follow the submission instructions: Submissions that are not received according to the instructions and using the required workbooks will be rejected.

Paid Lunch Equity: School districts that offer pricing programs (where students not eligible for free meals pay a full pay or reduced-price rate for meals) have received their annual Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) information. This must be submitted before the LEA application can be approved on CNP Web.

Legal Precedence: Passage of H.R. 19688, Full Year Continuing Resolutions and Extensions Act, 2025, continues funding and programs at 2024 levels; therefore, DEED has been advised by the USDA that PLE should be implemented the same way as last year under the PL 118-42, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2025.  If later guidance differs from this verbal guidance in a way that adversely impacts any districts, DEED will work with such districts on a case-by-case basis to bring them into compliance in the least impactful manner possible.

Summer Training: DEED will post registration for the Summer 2025 school nutrition program training as soon as information is available.

DEED hopes to offer a combination of online and in-person training. Due to a state travel ban, we are uncertain if training will be delivered in-person or virtually. Should in-person training be approved, training may take place 29-30 July in Anchorage.

We will host a one-day training for new and aspiring directors.

• New and aspiring directors' training: 31 July

School Nutrition Directors and Business Managers will receive a registration link and are responsible for assigning staff.  Due to limited availability, each program is guaranteed one slot for training. If additional slots are available, they will be released on a first-come, first-serve round robin.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement 

Executive Order 14168 regarding the definition of “sex”

Executive Order 14168 reverses guidance issued regarding the definition of “sex”.  USDA has not yet issued updated guidance or issued new posters (printed or electronic).

The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) continues to publish material using the USDA Nondiscrimination that was published prior to 20 January 2025.  Sponsors are encouraged to follow official USDA guidance which is to utilize the “And Justice For All” (AFJA) poster and nondiscrimination statement published as of that date.

Sponsors may adopt the interim nondiscrimination statement found on the USDA web site.  DEED will not issue findings or require corrective action.

Sponsors must prominently display the “and Justice for All” poster.  Sponsors must comply with this requirement by displaying:

• The AFJA poster in the original form on 11 × 17 in. poster, in color,
• An unaltered facsimile of the AFJA on letter-size paper (8 1/2 × 11 in) color, grayscale, or monochrome, or
• The interim USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

Sponsors may only use the current USDA Nondiscrimination Statement (published as for 20 January 2025) or the Interim version.  No other alterations are approved.  Sponsors may not use the nondiscrimination statement or AFJA posters from prior to 2022.

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) identified student percentage (ISP) threshold

Concerned individuals have contacted DEED regarding a US House Ways and Means Committee proposal to increase the required identified student percentage (ISP) threshold for schools to elect the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).DEED's Child Nutrition team does not comment on pending legislative action. The below information is intended to provide factual information relating to CEP relevant to Local Education Agencies' CEP election decisions.

There is no eminent path to increase the ISP threshold or otherwise reduce access to CEP.  Regulations at 7 CFR §245.9(f) that set the minimum ISP at 25 percent [(f)(3)(i)] and free claiming percentage multiplier at 1.6 [(f)(4)(v)].

CEP is established in statute in Sec. 11 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act in (a)(1)(F) [42 U.S.C. §1759a(a)(1)(F)].  The statute establishes that the ISP threshold must be 40 percent or less [(a)(1)(F)(viii)] and that the free claiming percentage multiplier must be between 1.3 and 1.6 [(a)(1)(F)(vii)].  The Secretary of Agriculture has the authority to change the ISP threshold and multiplier within the scope of the statute but must first promulgate such changes through the public notice and comment process before becoming effective. Change outside of the scope of the statute requires congressional action.

DEED advises sponsors to make CEP election decisions based on the established law and regulation. 

SNA NEWS - links below brought to you by School Nutrition Association

It’s Dinosaur Time!

WHAT’S “DINOSAUR TIME,” YOU MIGHT ASK? It’s TikTok’s latest healthy eating hack: Chowing down on handfuls of uncooked, plain spinach in a very dino-like fashion. Yes, we mean it. Creator @sahmthingsup coined the term dinosaur time in a series of TikTok videos, with the most popular one racking up over 2.5 million views and more than 340,000 likes. 

She explains the hack as a quick, easy and fun way to get more leafy greens into your diet—something that many people struggle with. Of course you could always make a salad, but even that can feel like too much effort some days. And if embracing prehistoric eating habits helps you get more nutrient-dense foods into your diet, why not?  

So, what are the benefits of dinosaur time? According to general practitioner Masrat Jilani, MBBS, MRCGP, the high fiber content in greens is important for digestion and gut health. Plus, calling it dinosaur time can help build healthier eating habits by turning it into something positive (and a little silly) rather than something many people dread. As far as any downsides, it is possible to eat too much fiber, and unwashed greens can be a food safety risk. So, make sure to wash your greens first, don’t get too carried away and then join in on the healthy-eating fun by embracing your inner Stegosaurus. Read more here.

Want More Stress in Your Life?

Stay up to date with the latest bills related to School Nutrition by subscribing to the "Tuesday Morning" newsletter by SNA! It is very informative and a good read.

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 16-2025 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program: Allocation of Funds for FY 2026

SP 15-2025 Enhancing Child Nutrition Program Meal Standards

SP 14-2025 Offer versus Serve Flexibilities for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program

SP 13-2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025: Effect on Child Nutrition Programs

SP 12-2025 Paid Lunch Equity: Guidance for School Year 2025-2026

SP 11-2025 Using Federal Funds to Purchase Local Foods

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

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Division of Finance and Support Services
Child Nutrition Programs
P.O. Box 110500
Juneau, AK 99811

Contact Us

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, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and 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: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.