Montana Office of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 07/19/2023 02:16 PM MDT
Apply Now! Healthy Meals Incentives
Recognition Awards for School Food Authorities
As part of a cooperative agreement to develop and implement the USDA Food and Nutrition Service’s (FNS) Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative [lnks.gd], Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) is offering Recognition Awards to celebrate School Food Authorities (SFA) that have made significant improvements to the nutritional quality of their school meals. The Recognition Awards will spotlight innovative practices, student and community engagement activities, and strategies schools have used to provide meals that are consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The Recognition Awards categories and criteria, application portal, and helpful resources to complete the application are available at https://healthymealsincentives.org/recognition-awards/ [lnks.gd]. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through June 30, 2025. Applicants will be notified of their results within two months of submission.
2023-24 School Year Application Packets in MAPS
If your district has not yet submitted the 2023-24 school year application packet in MAPS, please do so as soon as possible.
Direct Certification Application is Open and Includes Medicaid for the First Time
The Direct Certification Application is open for you to begin processing your direct certifications and On-Line Free and Reduced APPlications (if you have opted into using FRAPP).
Keep in mind that students cannot be directly certified until you have enrolled them for the year, and AIM, the statewide student information system, has been updated to reflect that information.
There are user manuals, webinars, and Tip Sheets available via links on the DCA Home Page to walk you through system functions and show you system updates for the school year.
Medicaid Free and Medicaid Reduced are new direct certification eligibility sources this year.
Online Free & Reduced-Price Meal Application
District Instructions
Opt into the online free and reduced-price application in the DCA. Once you opt in, copy a URL to publicize to your families. You can process applications that are submitted. The eligibility math is done for you in the system.
There is a determining Official User Manual on the DCA login page to give you information about how the system operates and how to setup your district.
Family Instructions
If your district has opted in to using the on-line free and reduced application (FRAPP), you can click on the button, select your district from the dropdown list, fill out, and submit the application. Your district may also provide you with a link; you can use that instead of this if you prefer. Click to view the User Guide.
This memorandum provides best practices for establishing a single application process for experienced program operators providing year-round meal services to at-risk children in low-income areas.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023 authorized a permanent, nationwide Summer EBT program beginning in 2024. The Act requires FNS to promulgate interim regulations within a year of the Act’s enactment. Interim regulations are effective upon publication and FNS will accept comments on the interim rule to inform subsequent rulemakings.
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, Relay Service: 711.
