Direct Certification (DC) Reminder
Sponsors who collect income information annually are reminded that DC must be pulled from the system a minimum of three times per year. DC data is updated and loaded into the system monthly from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) for SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF benefits and from the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) for foster child benefits.
As a reminder, DC moved to CNPweb in July 2022. Instructions can be found on IDOE’s Direct Certification webpage.
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) sponsors (corporation-wide) are required to conduct a DC pull one time per year. Residential Child Care Institution (RCCI) sponsors with no day students are not required to conduct a DC pull.
State Board of Accounts (SBOA) Documentation for Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) Exemption
Paid Lunch Equity Guidance from USDA for school year 2022-2023 is available here. To print a pdf of the memo, click “Policy Memo” under the Resource Materials header on the left of the page. Additional guidance for previous school years is also available on IDOE’s Financial Management webpage under Paid Lunch Equity. If you have any questions, please email SCNfinance@doe.in.gov and include your sponsor number and “PLE Tool” in the subject line.
DIG IN to School Breakfast
School Breakfast Week is coming Monday, March 6, through Friday, March 10, and to help celebrate, IDOE has compiled the following list of celebration ideas! As a reminder, sponsors entering the School Breakfast Week Challenge must incorporate one special celebration idea.
This year’s theme is “DIG IN to School Breakfast.” Sponsors that complete the School Breakfast Week Challenge form by Friday, February 17, will be entered into a randomized drawing to receive two rolls of “Launch your Day with Breakfast” stickers and 10 “Stronger with School Meals” buttons for staff, as well as additional swag from the American Dairy Association Indiana. Five schools will be chosen. One form must be completed for each building interested in a prize pack. Corporations with more than one building to be entered into the drawing must complete the form for each building separately.
On break during School Breakfast Week? No problem! If celebrations are planned during an alternate week, enter the celebration dates on the form and, if chosen, prizes will be sent by that date.
Utilizing All Allocated Pounds: Chicken and Turkey
Schools must utilize both the white and dark pounds of chicken and/or turkey allocated to them. Schools having difficulty utilizing either portion of allocated pounds should contact their processing company brokers as soon as possible for guidance on the products available to utilize them.
USDA Foods Annual Pre-order (Forecast) Survey Now Open
The annual pre-order (forecast) survey is now open through Friday, March 10, at 4 p.m. ET. The annual pre-order (forecast) survey must be completed in the FDP link in CNPweb. Once the survey closes, it cannot be reopened.
New for School Year 2023-2024
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Annual Pre-order (Forecast) Survey Toolkit - Click here to access the toolkit, located in the blue alert box in the middle of the page. The toolkit includes a training webinar, USDA Foods material prices and list of available foods, worksheets, and more!
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Changes to direct delivered item availability - Due to significant direct delivered cheese losses, IDOE will only offer direct delivered (Brown Box) cheeses in September, November, and January. This change is reflected on the annual pre-order survey.
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New direct delivered items - New items include 100119 - Turkey Taco Filling, Cooked, Frozen and 110721 ‐ Sweet Potatoes, Crinkle Cut Fries, Frozen.
February Webinars from IDOE
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Smart Snacks Refresher - Great for food service staff as well as those who oversee fundraisers!
- Tuesday, February 7, at 2 p.m. ET.
- Register here.
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Direct Certification Overview and Reminders - With specific time allowed for the explanation of Medicaid benefits!
- Thursday, February 23, at 2 p.m. ET.
- Register here.
Modifications to Accommodate Disabilities in School Meals Programs: Presented by the Food and Nutrition Service Civil Rights Division
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When: Wednesday, February 8, at 11 a.m. ET
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Where: This one-hour session will be held virtually, via Webex.
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Registration: Registration is required, and any local educational agency (LEA) registering must be approved by IDOE. Please reach out to Gretchen Huntzer for the registration link. Please register no later than 24 hours in advance to ensure you receive an attendee link.
Virtual Culinary Skills for A+ Meals is back!
Join Chef Cathy Powers for virtual Culinary Skills for A+ Meals training from the comfort of your own kitchen! Throughout 2023, Cathy and team will lead cafeteria staff through specific skills for the topic of the week. The virtual training will take place from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET. Training will feature live chef demonstrations, efficient techniques, and important nutritional insights.
Choose from 20 topics to enhance culinary skills and learn tips and tricks from the pros. Each class earns 1.25 training hours and includes great giveaways and plenty of time to ask questions! For more information and to register, click here. Contact Cathy Powers with questions.
Sponsors with Multiple Grade Groupings in One Building: Meal Pattern Reminder
Every best effort must be made to meet the meal pattern of the child being served. Sites that offer overlapping grades, such as grades six through 12 must determine the best way to meet two different meal pattern requirements; one for students in grades six through eight and one for students in grades nine through 12. Menu planners must plan different menus for each grade grouping served in the building. Sponsors unsure how to meet this requirement or those that are a residential facility, should reach out to their assigned field specialist.
Alternate Production Record Templates
Sponsors that do not utilize the IDOE template must ensure the production record format used meets all USDA requirements. Production records provided by vendors and/or software companies must be checked to ensure compliance. Sponsors can send a copy of alternate production record formats to their field specialists for review prior to use.
Farm to School Subgrant
IDOE will be awarding Farm to School subgrants with the purpose of increasing the use of local proteins in Indiana school and childcare center cafeterias. Applications will be made at the site-level, and funding will be available in predetermined amounts for specific equipment, including chef knives, cutting boards, thermometers, and vacuum sealers. Applicants can also submit original project proposals for their farm to school activities. Subgrants are structured to be easily accessible, and IDOE encourages all sites, including those new to farm to school, to apply. Applications will be accepted through Friday, February 17, at 5 p.m. ET. Full instructions, including a link to the application, can be found here.
Please also join us Thursday, February 9, at 2 p.m. ET for a webinar on procuring local proteins and a brief introduction to the subgrants available. Register here. For questions, please contact Hanna Cahalan.
Discover MyPlate: Nutrition Education for Kindergarten
USDA Team Nutrition is pleased to announce new and updated Discover MyPlate: Nutrition Education for Kindergarten resources. Team Nutrition has expanded the set to include additional foods, Spanish-language components, and new materials showing where food comes from.
- Kindergarten teachers and health and nutrition educators can use the standards-based lessons to help kids learn about nutrition while also reinforcing math, science, English, and health education content.
- School Nutrition Professionals can reinforce key Discover MyPlate messages at school meals.
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Discover MyPlate can serve as a tool for local educational agencies to meet nutrition education goals described in their Local School Wellness Policy.
All materials are free and available online here. Questions about these resources may be submitted to TeamNutrition@USDA.gov.
Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) Seeks STAR Webinar Panelists
The ICN is seeking panelists for upcoming STAR webinar presentations. If interested, view the planned topics and submit a panelist interest form to be considered.
No Kid Hungry Grant Funds Available
No Kid Hungry has announced a grant opportunity for this spring. Sponsors should fill out this survey to request funding and support for various initiatives, like increasing breakfast participation, starting an after school snack program, creating a backpack program, etc. For more information, reach out to Tarrah Westercamp.
Upcoming Dates |
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Tuesday, February 7, at 2 p.m. ET.
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February Webinar from IDOE: Smart Snacks Refresher.
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Wednesday, February 8, at 11 a.m. ET
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Modifications to Accommodate Disabilities in School Meals Programs: Presented by the Food and Nutrition Service Civil Rights Division
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Thursday, February 9 at 2 p.m. ET
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Webinar: Procuring Local Proteins in Child Nutrition Programs.
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Friday,
February 17
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Farm to School Subgrant Application Due
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Friday,
February 17
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Deadline to Submit School Breakfast Week Challenge Jotform
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Thursday, February 23, at 2 p.m. ET.
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February Webinar from IDOE: Direct Certification Overview and Reminders. Register here.
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Wednesday,
March 1
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December Claim Deadline
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Monday, March 6, through Friday, March 10
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School Breakfast Week
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Friday,
March 10
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USDA Foods Annual Pre-order (Forecast) Survey Closes
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