Monitoring Waiver Request

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is submitting a waiver request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for child nutrition program monitoring requirements for both the state agency and sponsors. This waiver will provide additional monitoring flexibilities through September 2021. Information on the status of this request will be communicated in future bulletins.

Deadline to Apply for Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)/Seamless Summer Option (SSO)—December 1, 2020 

All sponsors must have their sponsor and site applications updated and submitted for the remaining SFSP/SSO Program Year 2021 by December 1, 2020.   

SFSP is currently operating in Program Year 2021.  The deadline for new sponsors to apply was June 15, 2020.  Due to USDA waivers and extensions, Minnesota is allowing sponsors to update applications until December 1, 2020.  Sponsors who are brand new to SFSP and have never operated any USDA Child Nutrition (CN) programs will need to wait until Program Year 2022 (May 2021 through April 2022) to participate in SFSP.  An intent to apply survey will be released early spring 2021.   

Additionally, per 7 CFR 225.14(d)(6)(ii), if the sponsor is a private nonprofit organization, it must certify that it provides ongoing year-round activities for children and families.  Therefore, a nonprofit organization cannot become a sponsor only during COVID-19.   

USDA also provided guidance that we are no longer in an unanticipated school closure; therefore, the exemption for the deadline to apply under 7 CFR 225.6(c) is not applicable.  

Community-Based Child Nutrition COVID-19 Questions and Answers 

The Community-Based Child Nutrition COVID-19 Questions and Answers (Q&A) document is updated and available on the Food and Nutrition COVID-19 Resources webpage. The questions are organized by content area, and the relevant program(s) are specified in the first column.  

As questions and answers are added to the document, they are placed at the top under What’s New. All sponsors of Community-Based Nutrition Programs (CACFP, At-Risk, SFSP) should read over the What’s New section for the latest Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) guidance, as some guidance has changed. All sponsors are expected to comply with the most recent guidance from MDE. 

Tip: We recommend using a key word search to locate specific questions in the Q&A document. Press the “Ctrl” key and the “F” key at the same time. Enter one or two key words in the pop-up box. All instances of the key word will be highlighted in the document. 

Farm to School Story Sharing Series: Take the first bite or fill the whole plate

Join us virtually every morning, 9-10 a.m., between November 30 and December 4, 2020, to hear stories about how schools across Minnesota implement Farm to School. You will learn strategies on funding, marketing and getting more local foods into your school meals. Learn more and register for the Farm to School Story Sharing Series.

Apply for an AGRI Farm to School Grant 

Two tiers of Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Farm to School grants are available through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture: AGRI First Bite Mini Grants and AGRI Full Tray Grants. The grant funding supports public or private school districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program and serve food to K-12 students. School districts serving sovereign nations are encouraged to apply. Both applications are due by 4 p.m. on December 18, 2020.