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School Nutrition Program Updates

July 2025

📈 Back to School Workshop Registration is Still Open

Remember: No refunds after July 13! Registration closes July 21!

Please note the locations of each training. We will start at 8:30 a.m., and registration begins at 8 a.m.

Don’t worry about printing the ticket from Eventbrite; however, the ticket has all the information for participating in the event.

Please dress in layers and bring a sweater or light jacket. The hotels often set the room temperature quite cool to accommodate the large audience.

It will be important for key people of the school nutrition program to attend one of the Back to School workshops as there are many updates to the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs this year.

Topics planned to cover new information:

• Product Based Added Sugar Limits.
• Buy American Provision cap on nondomestic food purchase from the School Foodservice Account.
• Registered Dietitians may sign the Meal Modification for medical issues.
• NDDPI switch to Infinite Campus student information system starting July 1, 2026.
• ND Legislation extending free meal benefits for another 2 years in the State 225 Expanded Income Eligibility program.
• ND Legislation also mandates online applications be available at all schools sponsoring the National School Lunch program.
• Administrative reviews continue for another 40 schools in 2025-2026.
• NEW: Seriously deficient parameters will cause a follow-up review the next year.

Registration for the three locations follow:

Fargo
📅 Tuesday, July 29
📍 Hilton Garden Inn, Fargo
👉 Register here for the Fargo BTSW

Minot
📅 Thursday, July 31
📍 The Grand Oasis Hotel
👉 Register here for the Minot BTSW

Bismarck
📅 Monday, August 4
📍 The Bismarck Hotel
👉 Register here for the Bismarck BTSW

📈 Reimbursement Rates for SY 2025–2026 Coming Soon

These numbers are important in setting all meal pricing to make sure that projected revenue covers budgeted expense.

These numbers are also mandatory for setting adult meal pricing. Use the following formulas to know the minimum required for adult meal pricing:

A Pricing school will base the adult meal charge on the highest student meal price (usually the high school) and add the amount received in reimbursement for a paid meal, along with the value of commodities for the meal. The calculation will look like this:

• Breakfast: Highest student breakfast price + paid breakfast reimbursement rate + value of commodities ($0 as no commodities are received for breakfast) = Minimum adult breakfast price
• Lunch: Highest student lunch price + paid lunch reimbursement rate + value of commodities = Minimum adult lunch price

A Non-pricing school will base the adult meal charge on the reimbursement received for a free eligible meal and add the value of commodities for the meal. The calculation will look like this:

• Breakfast: Free eligible breakfast reimbursement rate + value of commodities ($0 as no commodities are received for breakfast) = Minimum adult breakfast price
• Lunch: Free eligible lunch reimbursement rate + value of commodities = Minimum adult lunch price

This quick Excel spreadsheet is available (from the SY 2024-2025) to help determine adult meal pricing. Please note this spreadsheet has not been updated to reflect the 2025-2026 school year reimbursement rates. An updated spreadsheet will be available once rates have been published.

An email will be sent out to Authorized Representatives once the reimbursement rates are published.  

📂 2025-2026 Free/Reduced-Price/State 225 information has been posted

Find this information on the NDDPI-CNFD Website under the School Nutrition Program tab and Free & Reduced Price Information: SNP Free & Reduced Price Information | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction

🗓 August Kitchen Counter Conversations: Civil Rights & Cashier Trainings, Aug. 19, 2025

While the Annual Civil Rights Training will not be included in this year's Back to School workshop, we’ve got you covered.

Join us in August to complete your annual civil rights and cashier training. Schools can also opt to watch it later as it will be recorded or, show the recording during their own Back to School workshop for their staff.

✅ Don’t forget it’s essential to document each staff member’s completion of the training – it is a requirement for program compliance.

💻 Check our website regularly for additional opportunities to complete the Civil Rights training.

👩‍🍳 Plus: Annual Cashier Training

Our August Kitchen Counter Conversations will also feature the Annual Cashier Training. We’ll cover key topics such as:

• What makes a meal reimbursable under USDA guidelines
• Understanding Offer vs Serve (OVS)
• The expectations and responsibilities of a school cashier

Date & Time:

📅 Date: Aug. 19, 2025

🕒 Time: 2 p.m. CDT

Join us for this important refresher and bring your questions—we’re here to help you start the school year confidently and well-prepared.

🗓 Mark your calendar:

SNP Renewal opened in ND Foods on July 7, 2025.

For a step by step guide, see our 'How To Guide' below:

OFFICE HOURS for SNP Renewal

Each Wednesday in July, starting July 9

Time: 10 a.m. for 30 minutes or until there are no more questions

Dates: July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30

^{SNP Renewal Overview + Q&A}

^{Join us for a quick walkthrough of the 2025 SNP renewal process in ND Foods. We'll highlight key steps, review updates, and answer your questions. No registration needed—just click to join!}

^{Teams Meeting Link for SNP Renewal Office Hours}

💰 Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) Tool for SY 2025–2026 Is Now Available

The USDA Paid Lunch Equity Tool for SY 2025–2026 is now available!

Who needs to complete it? Sponsors with a negative ending balance in their School Food Service Account are required to complete the tool. Others may use it voluntarily to help set student lunch prices.

🔗 Access the PLE Tool on our website

🌡️ New Kitchen Managers:

Remember to send in valid Food Safety and Sanitation certification to dpicnfd@nd.gov. Renewals for the SNP program will not be approved until certification is received.

ServSafe is hosting an in-person class on Aug. 26 at the Family Service Center of Clay County in Moorhead, MN. The training runs from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. and testing starts immediately after. Registration is due by Aug. 1. Find the Registration form HERE.

Those who cannot make the ServSafe training or are comfortable taking the training and testing online, “Food Safety in Schools” is available at any time through the Institute of Child Nutrition. Enroll in the course here: https://theicn.docebosaas.com/learn/courses/21/FoodSafetyinSchools

Please remember to send in the certificate to dpicnfd@nd.gov!

🥬 USDA Reminder of Updated Nutrition Standards that must be implemented by July 1, 2025

The following NSLP and SBP meal pattern changes must be implemented by July 1, 2025: 

• Added Sugars – Schools must meet the following product-based added sugar limits:
  • Breakfast cereals must contain no more than 6 grams of added sugars per dry ounce (7 CFR 210.10(c)(2)(iii)(B)).
  • Yogurt must contain no more than 12 grams of added sugars per 6 ounces (2 grams per ounce) (7 CFR 210.10(c)(2)(iv)(C)).
  • Flavored milk must contain no more than 10 grams of added sugars per 8 fluid ounces, or 15 grams of added sugars per 12 fluid ounces for flavored milk sold as a competitive beverage for middle and high schools (7 CFR 210.10(d)(1)(iii)).  
• NSLP Afterschool Snacks – Schools serving NSLP afterschool snacks to children in grades K-12 must serve the meal components and quantities found at 7 CFR 210.10(o)(2). Two highlights include:
  • No more than half of the weekly fruit or vegetable offerings at NSLP snacks may be in the form of juice. 
  • At least 80 percent of the grains offered during the week for NSLP snacks must be whole grain-rich.
  • Grain-based desserts, except for sweet crackers such as animal and graham crackers, do not contribute toward the grains requirement.  
• Meal Modifications – Schools must accept medical statements from registered dietitians requesting meal modifications on behalf of students with disabilities in the school meal programs. Refer to 7 CFR 210.10(m)(1)(i) for more information.
• Substitution of Vegetables for Fruits at Breakfast
  • Schools that choose to substitute vegetables for fruit at breakfast one day per school week may offer any vegetable, including a starchy vegetable.
  • Schools that choose to substitute vegetables for fruit at breakfast on two or more days per week are required to offer vegetables from at least two different vegetable subgroups. Refer to SP 02-2025 and SP 13-2025 for more information.   
• Sodium – The current sodium limits at breakfast and lunch will remain in place until July 1, 2027. Schools are encouraged to gradually work toward meeting the future sodium requirements (7 CFR 210.10(c)). Visit the following website for more information: https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/nutrition-standards/sodium-limits.   
• Buy American – Schools’ non-domestic food purchases must not exceed 10 percent of total annual commercial food costs as outlined in 7 CFR 210.21(d)(5)(ii)(A) and 7 CFR 220.16(d)(5)(ii)(A). As outlined in recent guidance, State agencies have the ability to approve a temporary accommodation to those school food authorities that demonstrate they cannot meet the threshold requirement for non-domestic purchases (see SP09-2025).

To assist schools in meeting the updated nutrition standards, the following resources are available from Team Nutrition and the Institute of Child Nutrition: 

• Crediting Tip Sheets in Child Nutrition Programs
• Offering Meats and Meat at School Breakfast 
• Reducing Added Sugars at School Breakfast 
• Serving School Meals to Preschoolers 
• The Whole Grain Resource for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs
• Nutrition Standards for Added Sugars Fact Sheets

Farm to School

Harvest of the Month aims to feature local foods grown, raised, or processed in North Dakota. We understand that’s not always feasible, and it’s not expected for every meal. This is a fun program to educate children about nutrition and where their food is grown. Don’t hesitate to be creative; the kids will love it. Don’t forget to hang up the poster each month. If you have any questions about Harvest of the Month, you can contact Amanda Olson at amolson@nd.gov.  

Farm to Summer at Will-Moore Elementary School "Veggie Van"

Many organizations came together to host the new “Veggie Van” this summer. This is a pilot project that Strengthen ND started to establish mobile farmers markets. We had a kick-off event at Will-Moore Elementary in Bismarck on June 25. Each student received a box of fresh produce, including microgreens, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, kohlrabi, and fresh bread, and a tomato plant. Then we did microgreens growing with the students in the afternoon to teach them how to grow their own greens! It was a fun-filled day, and we are looking forward to making this pilot project into a more prominent Farm to Summer program around the state in the future.

National School Lunch Week News:

SNA releases merchandise to celebrate National School Lunch Week, 2025 (Oct. 13-17, 2025). “Although it may feel like a distant destination, our preparations are already in full swing.” For ‘taste the world: Your school lunch passport’ has posters, banners, stickers, buttons, balloons, cups, t-shirts and aprons available to get you geared up for the event. Find them here: Celebrate School Lunch Hero Day with Gifts of Appreciation and Recognition National School Lunch Week 2025 - Products School Lunch Hero Day Gifts of Appreciation and Recognition

CONTACT OUR OFFICE:

NDDPI Child Nutrition and Food Distribution
Main Office:
600 E. Boulevard Ave, Dept 201
Bismarck, ND 58505
PHONE: 701-328-2294 or 888-338-3663
FAX: 701-328-9566
Email: dpicnfd@nd.gov

Mayville Office:
14 Main St E, Mayville, ND 58257
PHONE: 701-788-8901 or 888-788-8901
Website: https://www.nd.gov/dpi/districtsschools/child-nutrition-and-food-distribution

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