Direct Certification (DC) is Now Available
See links for training in the CNPweb feature below.
Severe Need Determinations
Severe need reimbursements are typically determined by the second preceding year participation. Because school food authorities (SFAs) had the option to serve meals under the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) in school year (SY) 2021-2022, IDOE will follow the guidance in this USDA memo.
- Those who operated SSO in SY 2021-2022, participation data from last year (SY 2022-2023) will be used.
- For those who operated the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in SY 2021-2022, the 2021-2022 data will be used to make severe need determinations.
CNPweb Program Year (PY) 2024 is Now Open
School Nutrition Programs (SNP) PY 2024 is now open within CNPweb. Sponsors can run DC and begin the PY 2024 application.
SNP Application
Sponsors should start with the Sponsor and Site Information sheets prior to moving to the Checklist tab. Complete instructions for the application can be found on the CNPweb announcement page and under the Help tab across the top purple ribbon. Some important reminders/changes:
- All sponsors must update the permanent agreement. The agreement must be reviewed and signed by the sponsor’s Executive Contact (listed on the Sponsor Info Sheet in CNPweb). A digital signature can be accepted for the agreement. The school-appointed food service director may not sign this document.
- Sponsors will be required to meet the annual training requirement for Civil Rights and Ethics. Please review those training modules in Moodle.
- Each sponsor’s school-appointed Food Service Director must take the Ethics course for the new school year and upload the newest certificate into the CNPweb checklist.
- If your school charges students for meals and the paid lunch price is less than $3.56, you must have completed the Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) Tool or have been approved for a PLE Exemption.
- Errors in the system currently undergoing fixes include:
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Date Food Service Director obtained Food Safety Certification under the FSMC/Vendor/Food Service Contractor section will error, even if the sponsor selected they do not have a FSMC or Vended Meals Contract. Enter the same date that was entered in the Food Service Director - hired by the SFA section.
- Sponsors that are not audited by the Indiana State Board of Accounts and expended more than $750,000 in the last complete fiscal year should be seeing a new section between OMB Single Audit Compliance and Certification Statement. This is not currently populated. These sponsors should continue with the application process and wait until a fix has been implemented to finalize the Sponsor Info Sheet.
Sponsors will continue to be updated on any issues or changes to the CNPweb system. If you have any questions please submit within the CNPweb Help Form.
Direct Certification
- Ensure the browser pop-up blocker is turned off. The DC spreadsheets will not populate if the blocker is on.
- If you receive an error message when downloading under Review New Matches, go to DC Download History, sort by All Sites, and download all of the files labeled All Sites.
- For updated instructions related to DC, review the DC webpage, review modules on Moodle, or attend an upcoming DC webinar.
- Issues with DC can be submitted to the DC Help Form.
K12 Foodservice and ProcessorLink Training
Schools that allocated pounds to processors are required to monitor and manage those pounds for proper inventory management. IDOE is hosting a training for each commodity tracking website. Learn how to monitor and manage processor pounds, select distributors, run reports and review months on hand.
Free and Reduced Webinar Series
Calling all free and reduced processors! Join IDOE for an application and direct certification webinar series. Each training session will credit toward professional development training hours and fulfill the training requirement for application processors.
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DC Basics- Learn about upgrades to the system for PY 2024 and how to pull and read reports.
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Application Processing- Walk through how to identify a completed application and the steps of the approval process.
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Verification for Cause- Learn how to select applications to verify for cause and basic steps through the process.
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DC- Processing Possible Matches- Review the necessary steps to ensure the possible match student is correct.
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Eligibility Disclosure- Learn when free and reduced eligibility can be disclosed to groups outside of food services for purposes other than meal benefits along with tips and tricks to ensuring the information is used as intended.
Registration links for the training series can be found on IDOE's Training webpage.
2023 Annual Financial Report (AFR) is Now Open
The 2023 AFR is now open in CNPweb and is due Friday, September 1. The 2023 AFR should include all financial transactions for the Nonprofit School Food Service Account (NPSFA) from July 2022 through June 2023. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while completing the AFR:
- All documentation used to complete the AFR should be retained on file for three years plus the current year and be readily available for an AFR validation at any time.
- If the NPSFA is charged indirect costs, please ensure all costs are calculated and charged to the account within 90 days from the last day of operation. Please note the NPSFA can only be charged up to the allowable approved percentage.
- If a sponsor does not have an approved indirect cost rate, they are allowed to charge up to 10%. Indirect costs cannot be assessed on or result in a negative balance.
- Confirm the beginning and ending balances are correct compared to the general ledger. Documentation may be required for validating and approving the 2023 AFR. If your balance does not match the previous year, please email SCN finance with a detailed explanation.
- Written resources for the completing the AFR can be found on the AFR drop down within the CNPweb Resources webpage.
AFR walk-through webinars will be hosted in August. Each webinar will show sponsors how to complete the 2023 AFR and participants will have the opportunity to ask questions. All webinar presentations will be the same so sponsors can choose only one session.
- Tuesday, August 1, at 10 a.m. ET, Register here
- Tuesday, August 8, at 1 p.m. ET, Register here
- Thursday, August 17, at 10 a.m. ET, Register here
- Tuesday, August 22, at 1 p.m. ET, Register here
If you have AFR questions, please reach out to SCNFinance@doe.in.gov and include your sponsor number and “AFR” in the subject line.
New Food Buying Guide (FBG) Yields
New yields are now available in the FBG for Child Nutrition Programs Interactive Web-based Tool and FBG Mobile App! New yield data is available for: individually quick-frozen red beans, frozen diced potatoes, frozen cubed sweet potatoes, brown lentils, and canned black turtle beans. Explore the FBG for Child Nutrition Programs today!
Medicaid Renewal Reminder from Managed Health Services (MHS)
Indiana Medicaid provides health insurance for low-income children, adults, seniors, pregnant people, and people with disabilities. Medicaid covers one in three Hoosiers—more than two million people in Indiana! Everyone with Medicaid will need to renew their coverage in the coming year. This did not happen the last three years.
Anyone covered by Indiana Medicaid should make sure the Indiana Family and Social Service Administration (FSSA) has their correct address. They can update their information on the benefits portal or by calling 800-403-0864. It is also important that they open and respond to all mail from FSSA and their health plan (Anthem, CareSource, MDwise, MHS, or United Healthcare).
Insurance can be confusing, but free, unbiased help is available from Indiana Certified Navigators. Find a navigator near you.
For questions, reach out directly to Elizabeth Sons, MHS School Based Service Administrator and Chair of the Indiana Healthy Schools Action Team.
Upcoming Dates |
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Monday, July 31
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May claim date
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Tuesday, August 1, at 10 a.m. ET
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AFR walk-through webinar. Register here.
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Tuesday, August 8, at 1 p.m. ET
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AFR walk-through webinar. Register here.
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Tuesday, August 15, from 10 to 11 a.m. ET
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K12 Foodservice training
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Thursday, August 17, at 10 a.m. ET
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AFR walk-through webinar. Register here.
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Tuesday, August 22, at 1 p.m. ET
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AFR walk-through webinar. Register here.
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Wednesday, August 23, from 11 a.m. to noon ET
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ProcessorLink training
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Friday, September 1
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Annual Financial Report (AFR) due
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This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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