September 2025 Announcements

Welcome to SY25-26! Administrative Update Packet & SNP Training Calendar now available.

Please be advised that the SY25-26 Administrative Update Packet is available along with the School Nutrition Program's SY25-26 Continuing Education Calendar. Please mark your calendars as our first few training topics of the year:

• August 13^thUSDA Foods & Monthly Allocation training for the Food Service Director to attend.
• August 20^thDirect Certification Application (DCA) for your school's Determining Official to attend.
• August 27^thHow to Enroll in and Process Online Free/Reduced Applications (FRAPP) for your school's Determining Official to attend.
• September 3^rdTips for Completing Off-Site Questions in MAPS - For Schools that are on Administrative Review this school year.
• September 10^thResource Management - Fund 12 (NPRT, Adult Meals, Allowable vs. Unallowable Costs) for your Business Clerk and Food Service Director to attend.
• October 16^thSNP FALL WORKSHOP - training over all SNP requirements for school administrative staff and food service directors.

The link to join the trainings is on the School Nutrition Program's SY25-26 Continuing Education Calendar and the Google Drive Folder where recorded trainings are available to you is linked at the bottom of that calendar.

USDA Foods Shipment 2

Check out the New and Improved Harvest of the Month page! The Montana Harvest of the Month program showcases Montana grown foods in Montana communities. It is a perfect way to launch or grow a farm to school or farm to cafeteria program as it provides an easy framework to follow and ready-to-use materials. Interested in implementing Harvest of the Month at your school, cafeteria, or business? Click HERE for more details on getting started.

Update on Administration of the SUN Bucks Program

There will be a change in the administration of the SUN Bucks program.

As of October 1, 2025, the Montana Office of Public Instruction (MT OPI) will no longer be working with the SUN Bucks program. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (MT DPHHS) will be administering the program moving forward. This change will take effect with the 2026 SUN Bucks benefit issuance for children eligible for the program from July 1, 2025 through the end of the 2026 SUN Bucks operational period.

We understand the significance of this program for our school districts and the communities we serve. Further updates and information will be shared as we move forward with this transition. 

Here are a few immediate changes:

• The DCA, FRAPP, and notifications will no longer mention SUN Bucks starting September 1^st after the last day of the 2025 SUN Bucks eligibility period. Some history will remain through this school year.
• Please work FRAPP applications that come in through August 31^st quickly so they can be used for the last 2025 SUN Bucks benefits file on September 10^th.
• The SUN Bucks upload will no longer be available starting September 10^th.
• CEP schools will no longer have access to FRAPP applications for SUN Bucks, when appropriate, because the MT DPHHS application for summer 2026 will be available on October 1^st.

We appreciate your cooperation with the SUN Bucks program during the past two summers to provide thousands of our Montana children with groceries during the summer months.

If you have any questions or need further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out to OPI School Nutrition Programs at 406-444-2502. You may also continue to write to SUNBucks@mt.gov or call the hot-line at 406-444-0044, as these will be answered by MT DPHHS staff.

Best regards, 

OPI School Nutrition Programs Team 

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.