Updated documents:  

• Training Resources Available in Spanish on the School Nutrition Programs Training and Professional Standards webpage 
• Budget Detail Worksheet on the Child and Adult Care Food Program for Centers Forms webpage 

Tips for Using Ounce Equivalents  

Beginning October 1, 2021, CACFP centers and child care homes must credit grains based on ounce equivalents. Ounce equivalents are already used in the National School Lunch Program, Child Nutrition Labels, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Standardized Recipes, and by many food service vendors. An ounce equivalent is the amount of food that is considered equal to one ounce from the grain or protein food groups. To learn more about or to review information about ounce equivalents, check out Using Ounce Equivalents for Grains and the Out With Servings and In With Ounce Equivalents recording. 

Meal Pattern Waiver  

To submit a meal pattern request, complete the online survey Meal Pattern Waiver Request for Schools – School Year 2021-22. 

2021-22 State Attendance Factor Set at 92.6 Percent  

The state attendance factor used by School Food Authorities (SFAs) to determine average daily attendance for School Year (SY) 2021-22 is 92.6 percent. The attendance factor is used to complete the required School Daily-Monthly Claims Edit Check and to calculate the average daily attendance reported for monthly Cyber-Linked Interactive Child Nutrition System (CLiCS) claims for reimbursement. 

USDA Foods Fall Store School Year (SY) 2021-22  

The SY 2021–22 U.S. USDA Foods fall store will be open Monday, August 30, through Tuesday, September 14.  

School Food Authorities (SFAs) with available entitlement may place orders using the Food Distribution Program (FDP2) platform in the Cyber-Linked Interactive Child Nutrition System 2 (CLiCS2). SFAs with a negative balance will not be able to participate. For assistance with your CLiCS2 login, email mde.fns@state.mn.us using the CLiCS User ID Request Form. If you have questions or require further assistance, send an email to fns.fdp@state.mn.us or call (651) 582-8526. 

Meals for Online Learners During School Year 2021-22   

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) recently released guidance for schools/districts that will be offering "Online and Blended Learning" opportunities for students. Students participating in blended learning receive part of their instruction in a supervised school building and part time through digital delivery of instruction. These students must be allowed to participate in school meal programs while they are receiving instruction in the school building. The USDA non-congregate dining and meal time waivers allow schools to provide meals to blended learning students when they are receiving online instruction. The use of these waivers for the online portion of blended learning is at the discretion of the local educational agency (LEA). During online learning, meals could be provided to blended learning students by allowing them to eat in the cafeteria, pick up meals from a designated site or sending meals home with students during an on-site instructional day.

USDA prohibits 100 percent online schools from participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs as well as the Seamless Summer Option (SSO). For school year 2021-22, students participating in 100 percent online programs may receive meals from open SSO sites.

Tuesdays @ 2 Webinars  

Back-to-School Toolbox 2021-22 

Prepare for the 2021-22 school year with the Institute of Child Nutrition’s Back-to-School Toolbox. Resources are organized by staff role (frontline staff, managers, menu planners and directors) and include online courses, posters, training materials, virtual training opportunities, and more.