USDA Provides Flexibilities to Ensure Kids Receive Meals This Fall
Local schools and childcare providers are empowered to adapt meal service operations for the upcoming school year
COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #33 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Non-congregate Feeding in the Child Nutrition Programs – EXTENSION #2
Pursuant to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the FFCRA) (P.L. 116-127) and based on the exceptional circumstances of this public health emergency, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is extending a nationwide waiver to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID–19) for school year (SY) 2020-2021.
COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #34 Meal Service Time Flexibility in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program – EXTENSION #2
(1) Under this waiver, Program operators in a State with an approved waiver of meal service times may establish meal service times that support streamlined access to nutritious meals. This waiver extends the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Service Time Flexibility in National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Child and Adult Food Program – EXTENSION granted on May 14 that expires on August 31, 2020. (2) This waiver applies to State agencies administering, and local organizations operating the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program. (3) This document relates to 7 CFR 210.10(l), 220.8(l) and 226.20(k).
COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #35 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals for Children – Extension 2
FNS is extending a nationwide waiver to allow parents and guardians to pick up meals for children until August 31, 2020. This waiver extension applies to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #36 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Child Nutrition Programs – Extension 4
This waiver extends the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Child Nutrition Programs – EXTENSION 3, granted on June 8, 2020, that expires July 31, 2020. This waiver extension applies to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for school year (SY) 2020-2021. As provided for in the June 8 extension, the waiver for the Summer Food Service Program remains in effect until July 31, 2020.
COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #37 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Offer Versus Serve Flexibility for Senior High Schools in the NSLP for SY 2020–2021
Pursuant to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and based on the exceptional circumstances of this public health emergency, FNS is establishing a nationwide waiver to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID–19) for school year 2020-2021. This waiver applies to the National School Lunch Program.
OPI and Team Nutrition Professional Standards Survey – We want to hear from you!
Please complete this optional Professional Standards Survey to help guide the training, including fall workshops and webinars, offered by the OPI School Nutrition Programs and Team Nutrition for School Year 2020-21.
Watch for a New Online Free and Reduced-Price School Meal Application
School Nutrition Programs will have an online free and reduced-price school meal application available soon. We are testing it now and hope to have it ready by mid-July.
We will send an announcement as soon as the 2020-21 free and reduced-price school meal application materials are posted.
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2020-21 School Year Applications are Open through August 31
Thank you to those who have submitted applications! If you have not yet submitted your 2020-21 school year application, please login to MAPS to make your updates.
Schools electing to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision must submit an application by August 31.
Look for instructions for completing the application, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program application (for schools that are invited to participate only), and Financial Report (for private non-profit sponsors only) in Download Forms in MAPS.
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Back to School Meal Service Resources
Waiver for School Year 2020- 2021 National School Lunch Program USDA Foods Entitlement Calculations
Due to the unanticipated school closure resulting from COVID-19, reimbursable lunch counts for the NSLP were reduced in many States across the country, including Montana. Left unchecked, this reduction in lunch counts would result in a decrease to USDA Foods entitlement available for the 2020-2021 school year.
To ensure that the maximum amount of USDA Foods are provided to schools, MT OPI School Nutrition Programs has opted-in to a federal waiver that will lock in the preliminary lunch counts for the 2020-2021 school year. The waiver applies to all sponsors of the NSLP in Montana.
This means that the preliminary entitlement funds that were assigned in January 2020 at the time of the Annual Survey will be the final amount for the 2020-2021 school year. No action is needed by individual schools.
Montana Cook Fresh Award
The Montana Cook Fresh Award was created by joint efforts of the Office of Public Instruction, Montana Team Nutrition and Montana No Kid Hungry to recognize excellence in School Nutrition Programs and the efforts of food service professionals. Foodservice professionals and their programs are “scored” based on documentation and observation during their Administrative Review. Areas scored included scratch cooking, menu variety, safety practices, comfortable cafeterias, motivation to meet/exceed requirements, and more.
Every year the top four scores receive the award. Additionally, a list of honorable mentions receives notice of their highly rated program. The scores are always close – with a mere few points of separation only!
Regrettably we cannot commend these winners in person at the annual Montana School Nutrition Association conference. However, we will still be mailing the winners their award, along with the prize: a set of 5 knives in their school’s colors.
Winners: Froid Public Schools, Lone Rock Elementary, Plentywood K-12 Schools, Whitehall Public Schools
Honorable Mentions: Anderson Elementary, Belfry K-12 Schools, Lincoln K-12 Schools, Luther Elementary, Montana City Elementary, Red Lodge Public Schools
Congratulations to all for your wonderful programs, and for feeding Montana’s students such beautiful and nutritious meals!
School Nutrition Weekly CHAT
Participate in the School Nutrition CHAT every Thursday at 1:00-2:00 pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86193144475?pwd=ZmtKbkU3Z2VGSDdyTjZJSEVNa05xQT09 [us02web.zoom.us]
Meeting ID: 861 9314 4475
Password: 9YrSxW
If connecting via telephone, dial
+1 669 900 6833 US or
+1 253 215 8782 US
Meeting ID: 861 9314 4475
Password: 700221
Cartewheel Menu Planner
OPI and Colyar Technology Solutions have partnered to offer you Cartewheel Menu Planner! Cartewheel simplifies the process of creating healthy, delicious menus, and communicating them to your site staff.
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, TTY 406-444-0235.
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