School Nutrition Programs Newsletter from the Indiana Department of Education

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School Nutrition Programs

This weekly newsletter from the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is dedicated to providing education, training, and technical assistance opportunities to school nutrition professionals, helping to ensure seamless operations for those participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Child Nutrition Programs. If you are the food service contact for your school or facility, please be certain that everyone on your team has access to this important information.


Tip of the Week

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Renewal and First Time Participation

Applications for CEP are based on enrollment on or around April 1. If your student information system (SIS) or point of sale (POS) does not retain accurate historical enrollment, pull a list of enrolled students as soon as possible to ensure the most accurate enrollment information is used on next year’s application. While the data used for CEP eligibility is pulled around April 1, the deadline to apply for the 2023-2024 school year is Friday, June 30. Questions about CEP? Contact your field specialist.

Important Updates

Comment Period Extended

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has extended the deadline to submit comments on the Child Nutrition Programs: Revision to Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020 Dietary Guideline for Americans proposed rule to Wednesday, May 10. This extension is intended to give the public additional time to review the proposed rule and submit comments.

Additional information about the proposed updates to the School Nutrition Standards, including webinar recordings, comparison charts, and timelines can be found here.


FNS Prepares for the End of the Public Health Emergency

The National Public Health Emergency (PHE) is expected to expire on Thursday, May 11. Once the PHE ends, FNS will no longer be able to offer PHE-related benefits and flexibilities. Review the FNS Response to COVID-19 Public Health Emergency webpage for more information.

USDA Foods

USDA Foods Allocations To End Sunday, April 30

USDA Foods allocations into schools’ inventories will end on or before Sunday, April 30, based on the school’s annual pre-order survey. Schools can view this information in CNPweb via the FDP link, under the Surveys tab.

Now is the time to remove USDA Foods from the state assigned warehouses and processors, as well as spend USDA Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program funds by Friday, June 30. USDA Foods are intended to be utilized in the school year allocated. IDOE will sweep all Direct Delivered (Brown Box) USDA Foods from all school inventories as of Friday, June 30.


Updated USDA Foods Year-at-a-Glance Document

IDOE has updated the USDA Foods Year-at-a-Glance document. Click here for more information.

Training and Webinar Opportunities

Culinary Skills for A+ School Meals

Culinary Skills for A+ School Meals is a five-day, hands-on culinary skills workshop designed for school nutrition professionals and will be offered this summer in six locations across Indiana. 

  • Noblesville - Monday, June 5, through Friday, June 9
  • Indianapolis - Monday, June 12, through Friday, June 16
  • Bloomington - Monday, June 26, through Friday, June 30
  • Merrillville - Monday, July 10, through Friday, July 14
  • Mishawaka - Monday July 17, through Friday, July 21
  • Fort Wayne - Monday, July 24, through Friday, July 28 

Classes meet from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday each week. Please plan on attending all five days of training. Register here.

Unable to join in person? 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 school nutrition professionals 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, efficiency 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 giveaways and plenty of time to ask questions! For more information and to register, click here. Contact Cathy Powers with questions.


Introduction to School Nutrition Leadership (ISNL)

IDOE is excited to offer three regional in-person INSL training opportunities this year. INSL is intended for new and aspiring school nutrition program directors. The training is 30.5 hours in length, and the course content is divided over five days. Lessons provide an overview of school nutrition programs, define the role and responsibilities of a director, and review the relationship between local policies and state/federal regulations. Interested participants should only register for one session.

  • Central - Fishers Junior High School
    • Monday, June 26, through Friday, June 30 
    • Register here.
  • Southern - Jasper
    • Monday, July 10, through Friday July 14
    • Register here.
  • Northern - Warsaw Community Schools
    • Monday July 17, through Friday July 21
    • Register here.

Reminders

Proposed Rule CEP - Increasing Options for Schools

FNS has published a proposed rule, Child Nutrition Programs: CEP – Increasing Options for Schools. The rule proposes to expand access to CEP by lowering the minimum identified student percentage (ISP) participation threshold from 40 to 25 percent. The proposed rule was published Thursday, March 23, on the Federal Register. Click here for more information, including the Summary of Proposed Rule, which highlights changes the proposed rule would have on CEP.

Public Comment Period: USDA invites interested persons to submit written comments on the proposed rule through Monday, May 8. Comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at Regulations.gov, which has online instructions for submitting comments.

Updates from Our Partners

Youth Adolescent Physical Activity (YAPA) Grant Success Story

With funding offered through the Indiana Department of Health, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity’s Youth and Adolescent Physical Activity (YAPA) grant, the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation was able to provide a successful All Kids Swim Program in summer 2022, after having the program postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To read more about the success of the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation’s All Kids Swim Program, click here.

The YAPA grant aims to help schools and youth-serving organizations provide physical activity and physical education opportunities for K-12 youth and adolescents. Information about the 2023-2024 YAPA grant application will be released later this spring. For more information on the YAPA grant, please contact Emma Smythe, Youth Physical Activity Coordinator, IDOH, DNPA.


Find Your Fit Health and Wellness Summit

Join Hoosier Health and Wellness Alliance (HHWA) for the “Find Your Fit: Growing Your Role and Cultivating Partnerships in the Food System” annual summit. Attendees will gain knowledge in state and local food resilience efforts and engage with resources to further develop local infrastructure and capacity to expand on new and existing food system efforts. While supplies last, HHWA will provide summit attendees with complimentary educational materials to further their success. Click here to register today!

Upcoming Dates

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Sunday, April 30

USDA Foods Allocations End

Monday, May 8

CEP Proposed Rule Comment Period Ends

Wednesday, May 10

Proposed Updates to the School Nutrition Standards Comment Period Ends

Thursday, May 11

Federal Pandemic Health Emergency Expires

Monday, June 26 - Friday, June 30

Introduction to School Nutrition Leadership (ISNL) Regional Training - Fishers

Friday, June 30

CEP Application Due for 2023-2024

Monday, July 10 - Friday July 14

Introduction to School Nutrition Leadership (ISNL) Regional Training - Jasper

Monday July 17 - Friday July 21

Introduction to School Nutrition Leadership (ISNL) Regional Training - Warsaw

 

Additional Resources

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.