Nutrition Program Updates for the Week of April 30, 2018

department of education

Nutrition Program Updates for the Week of April 30, 2018


School Nutrition Program Updates


Direct Certification

2018-19 First File available July 2018

In prior years, the first direct certification file was available in June. This process has changed for 2018-19 in an effort to align effective dates with the current school year. School Food Authorities (SFAs) may consider the effective date of eligibility for free school meal or milk benefits to be the date of the automated data matching file as long as the file has been generated in the current school year. Email notifications will be sent as usual when the July match takes place.

 

2018-19 Paid Lunch Equity

Important Program Memo SP 12-2018

For SY 2018-19, only School Food Authorities (SFAs) with a negative balance in the nonprofit school food service account as of January 31, 2018, are required to establish prices for paid lunches according to the Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) provision. All other SFAs are eligible for an exemption from this requirement.

On Monday, April 30, an email with a voting feature will be sent to the Primary Contact in Cyber-Linked Interactive Child Nutrition System (CLiCS) to be used as communication of your intent to use the 2017-18 PLE Tool or use the exemption.

Please note that this is a one-year exemption from paid lunch revenue requirements. It does not eliminate the need for sound budgeting practices when determining paid lunch prices. Best practice is to determine the desired program revenue from all sources before utilizing this exemption.

To access the USDA's Paid Lunch Equity Calculations for School Year 2018-19, go to MDE’s Meal Pricing and Non-Program Foods webpage.

 

Reminder: School Outreach for Summer Programs

This requirement (7 CFR 210.12(d)) applies to all School Food Authorities (SFAs) need to annually inform families about Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sites.

When school is out, families need to know where to find free summer meals.  Before the end of the school year, SFAs must provide SFSP information through the means normally used to communicate with families like a newsletter, email and website.

  1. Make a list of the SFSP site locations and hours in your area by using any link shown below.
  2. Provide the links shown below so that families can locate SFSP sites in any area.

There are four easy ways to locate SFSP meal sites based on a location.

  • Download the Summer Eats Minnesota Mobile App, OR search the app store on your smartphone for the free app "Summer Eats Minnesota."
  • Text "Summer Meals" to 97779.
  • USDA Interactive Map website.
  • Call the National Hunger Hotline toll free at 1-866-3-HUNGRY. 

 

Reminder: Community Eligibility Provision Application

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Applications for School Year 2018-19 are due no later than June 30, 2018.

 

Culinary Training for School Nutrition Professionals

Topic: Basic Culinary Techniques

  • Part 1: June 18, 2018 (8-10 a.m. or 1-3 p.m.)
  • Part 2: June 25, 2018 (3-5 p.m.) or September 27, 2018 (3-5 p.m.)

Location:  Falcon Heights 
 

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Opportunities from Our Partners


Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Halftime Webinar

Date: May 17, 2018

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Team Nutrition initiative will present Methods for Healthy Cooking. CACFP program sponsoring organizations and operators are invited to participate. This webinar will focus on cooking nutritious meals and snacks using methods such as roasting, baking, steaming, sautéing, stir-frying, grilling and more. The webinar will discuss recipes for creating tasty meals that fit within the CACFP meal patterns while reflecting regional food preferences and flavors.

Registration for this free webinar is now available:

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