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Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
2026-01
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Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Division of Finance and Support Services
Child Nutrition Programs
P.O. Box 110500
Juneau, AK 99811 |
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Subscription Management
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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.
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USDA Policy, Information, and Implementation Memos |
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Sponsoring organizations and institutions are required by regulation to keep Bulletins, Instructions, and USDA Policy Memorandums for reference and to apply immediately the appropriate instruction to agency programs. The latest policy memos are found on the USDA FNS policy page. Call Child Nutrition Programs if you need further clarification.
There are no new policy memos at this time.
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 Upcoming Deadlines:
- One Month Enrollment Report (OMER): Oct 6
- NPFS Report: Nov 1
Past Deadlines:
- CACFP Renewal/Applications: Sept 12
- Additional Documents for Administrative Review: Aug 26
- CACFP Budget: Aug 30
Additional Topics
DEED Civil Rights Training Self-Certification Portal
The most recent Civil Rights training for FY2026 is available here.
Sponsor staff may now request their certificate through the self-certification portal for Training Outside the E-learning System.
Each staff must complete the training and document their completion
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/d9bc146c038f4bc09da47b52e87ab68b
Note that while participants will receive an immediate confirmation of completion, certificates are generated via the Nightly Automated Issuance for Learners Self-certified.
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Federal Government Shutdown Update from DEED
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development’s (DEED) Child Nutrition Program team stands ready to support you in the event of a federal government shutdown, while continuing to uphold DEED’s mission of providing an excellent education for every student every day. We want to assure you that you can, and should, continue operating your child nutrition programs as usual. You remain entitled to meal reimbursements under all applicable statutory and regulatory provisions.
Will sponsors receive meal reimbursements?
Meal reimbursements in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program are authorized under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act (42 U.S.C. Chapters 13 and 13A, respectively). Program operators remain entitled to reimbursement, even during a federal government shutdown; these entitlements can only be terminated through statutory change.
If you have a fully executed Grant Award Notice (GAN) for another program—such as the Local Foods for Schools grant or the first quarter Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grant, your grant funding remains in place. If you do not have a fully executed GAN, please contact your assigned program or grant representative with any specific questions you may have.
Will payments be delivered on time?
- DEED currently expects to process and issue payments for meal claims in federal fiscal year 2025. However, depending on the length of the shutdown, DEED may need to suspend or delay payment processing; DEED receives “block” funds to cover meal reimbursements. If those funds are depleted or run low, payments may be slowed or suspended until accounts are reconciled.
- At this time, DEED does not anticipate that it will issue payments for FY2026. The earliest possible date these could begin is November 1, when sponsors may begin submitting October claims for reimbursement.
- Reimbursements for certain grants may also be suspended until the federal government resumes normal operations.
Will administrative reviews be cancelled or delayed?
Administrative reviews are conducted by DEED and its contractors. Reviews will continue as scheduled. (And there’s always hope for a weather delay to our flights! 😊)
Will Child Nutrition Programs be staffed to answer my questions and approve requests?
Yes. All staff will continue working unless on approved leave. However, we may suspend work on some programs and grants depending on the availability of administrative funds.
DEED staff provide most of the technical assistance you receive, including reviewing program and site applications, processing claims, and answering routine questions. Staff may be unable to approve certain waivers or respond to requests that require federal approval during the shutdown.
Please continue operating your child nutrition program as usual. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding.
If you have any questions, please contact your program team directly for assistance:
Notice of Informal Comment Period on Division of Environmental Health Regulations
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is opening an informal comment period to gather public input on Alaska’s Division of Environmental Health (EH) regulations, found in 18 AAC 23, 18 AAC 30, 18 AAC 31, 18 AAC 32, 18 AAC 34, 18 AAC 36, 18 AAC 60, 18 AAC 62, 18 AAC 63, 18 AAC 64, 18 AAC 65, 18 AAC 66, 18 AAC 80, 18 AAC 85, 18 AAC 87, and 18 AAC 90. Comments must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on October 17, 2025.
The public comment form is available online at Notice of Informal Comment Period on Division of Environmental Health Regulations.
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Indirect Cost Rate
Sponsors can submit their Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) or Certification of De Minimis Indirect Cost Rate annually. This submission ensures that Child Nutrition Programs approve grants and programs for your agency with the appropriate indirect cost rate.
You can submit your NICRA or de minimis rate through the CNP Form Submission Studio.
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MAHA Commission Unveils Sweeping Strategy to Make Our Children Healthy Again
WASHINGTON—SEPTEMBER 9, 2025—The Make America Healthy Again Commission today released the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, a sweeping plan with more than 120 initiatives to reverse the failed policies that fueled America’s childhood chronic disease epidemic. The strategy outlines targeted executive actions to advance gold-standard science, realign incentives, increase public awareness, and strengthen private-sector collaboration.
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 Farm to CACFP Week is October 12-18
NCA is excited to help you celebrate with resources to get you started.
Join us for our webinar on Wednesday, October 15 from 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm Eastern to discover ways to grow your participation and access fresh ideas and resources for inspiration.
Participation can be as simple as sharing a newsletter with parents, planning an educational activity with your kids or creating an interactive experience like starting a garden. Chances are, you’re already doing something that ties into Farm to CACFP!
NCA has also put together a list of five ways that you can prepare for Farm to CACFP Week. Take advantage of the free materials available on our website!
You can also participate in our social media challenge for a chance to win a mini-indoor herb garden or vegetable starter kit!
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Free Farm to CACFP Materials
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NCA has put together a list of five ways that you can prepare for Farm to CACFP Week. Take advantage of the free materials available on our website!
You can also participate in our social media challenge for a chance to win a mini-indoor herb garden or vegetable starter kit!
Help us spread the benefits of connecting child and adult care sponsors and operators with local foods.
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NCA has put together a list of five ways that you can prepare for Farm to CACFP Week. Take advantage of the free materials available on our website!
You can also participate in our social media challenge for a chance to win a mini-indoor herb garden or vegetable starter kit!
Help us spread the benefits of connecting child and adult care sponsors and operators with local foods.
Updated WIC Food Guide
The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program has updated their food lists. These food lists can be used by CACFP operators to help identify breakfast cereals that can qualify as whole grain rich.
Please note that program operators should still check whether these meet the new added sugar limits.
Although their web pages have not been updated as of these writing, program operators can download the following files:
Team Nutrition Resources
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Contact Us
Child and Adult Care Food Program
School Meals
Summer Meals
Food Distribution Program
Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program
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Farm to School
The Emergency Food Assistance Program
Child Nutrition Grants
Child Nutrition Financial Management
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USDA Nondiscrimination Statement (English)
In accordance with Federal law and the 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 (including limited English proficiency), sex, age, disability, and 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 for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY).
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 AD-3027 (PDF, 351 KB), 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 Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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