School Nutrition Programs Newsletter from the Indiana Department of Education

header

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

Special Dietary Needs

All sponsors must accommodate special dietary need requests for students with disabilities as determined and outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act. This can include but is not limited to food allergies or intolerances, texture modifications, carb counting for diabetic students, and calorie changes. A medical statement form may be necessary to accommodate the child if the request involves changes to the meal pattern.

Schools must accommodate any request that is related to a disability and cannot delay accommodations until an official note or prescription is received. All parents and guardians should be aware of the process to request a meal accommodation for a student and their procedural rights. For more information on special dietary needs, visit IDOE's Special Dietary Needs webpage or contact Ashley Heller with any questions.

Important Updates

E-Learning Meal Service Reminder

E-Learning meals must be served at school in a congregate setting and meals must meet the National School Lunch Program/School Breakfast Program (NSLP/SBP) meal pattern. Meals must be documented at the point of sale according to the individual student's eligibility. Corporations may serve in a limited number of locations, however, students who regularly attend Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) buildings should not be charged for a meal if they eat at a non-CEP building that day. Contact your field specialist if you have any questions.


Natural Disasters Resulting in Unexpected School Closures

IDOE is committed to keeping children fed even when disaster strikes. When schools have an unexpected closure due to a natural disaster, please reach out to IDOE about the available options to continue meal service. 

Additional USDA resources for disaster assistance: 

The FNS Resilience and Recovery Tool can be used for preparedness and resiliency purposes to identify areas of highest need in the Underserved Communities data tab and overlay information such as flooding risks. The tool can help determine communities that may need alternative emergency messaging due to disabilities, limited English capabilities, or lack of vehicle or internet access. The tool can also be used for response and recovery purposes, by allowing users to estimate how many households, schools, and retailers are in the disaster area. Additional data may be added such as evacuation routes, FEMA open shelters and infrastructure data (e.g. fire stations and State Emergency Operations Centers). Live feeds of weather, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, drought, and COVID-19 cases are included.


School Year Pandemic EBT (PEBT) Issuance Update

PEBT distributions for reported COVID absences for school age students will be issued by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) this weekend. This distribution is only for reported COVID-related absences through December. Unlike the previous summer 2022 issuance for all free/reduced price lunch students, the school year issuance only covers specific COVID-related absences for eligible students with a benefit amount of $8.18 per day absent.

Benefits will be loaded on to existing PEBT cards. If a student has not received benefits in the past, new cards will be mailed and should be expected to arrive one to two weeks after the issuance date. If a replacement PEBT card is needed, it must be requested from the PEBT website, not from the EBT customer service number on the back of EBT cards.

Additional information is available here.

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

Introduction to School Nutrition Leadership (ISNL)

IDOE is excited to offer three regional in-person INSL training opportunities this year. ISNL 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.

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.

Reminders

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.

Updates from Our Partners

Families Who Have Chosen Home or Virtual School for COVID-related Reasons May Qualify for Federal Funding

Families who meet certain income requirements and have chosen home or virtual school for their children due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for PEBT (federal food assistance), but they must act quickly.

Families must apply for this benefit before Monday, May 15.

Families who meet the qualifications below are encouraged to visit FSSA’s PEBT webpage to apply. (Scroll down the page to find the green button to apply.)

The P-EBT Home or Virtual School Program provides benefits for: 

  • Students in kindergarten through grade two
    • Who are attending home or virtual school for COVID-related reasons
    • Who are determined to be eligible for free/reduced price meals due to their family’s income
  • Students in grades three through 12
    • Who were enrolled at an NSLP (free/reduced lunch) eligible school and switched to home/virtual school after the Federal Public Health Emergency began on January 27, 2020, and
    • Who are attending home or virtual school for COVID-related reasons
    • Who are determined to be eligible for free/reduced price meals due to their family’s income

Families can find the application and other information about PEBT here. More information about FSSA and all its divisions and programs is available at www.IN.gov/FSSA.


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!


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.

Upcoming Dates

Calendar Icon

Sunday, April 30

USDA Foods Allocations End

Monday, May 1

February Claim Deadline

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.