The Child Nutrition & Food Distribution team celebrated the 80th Anniversary of the signing of the National School Lunch Act, during the New Kitchen Manager Training, on June 4, 2026.
What a great way to welcome our New Kitchen Managers! You play a vital role in creating a cafeteria where students are nourished and feel welcomed each day. Know that your work has a lasting impact!
Memo Updates: State Agencies must distribute any new guidance from USDA to Program operators.
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USDA Memos
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Title
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Main Point
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SP 08 2026
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Expanding Fluid Milk Options in Child Nutrition Programs
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This memo codifies and expands the school nutrition programs allowed to offer whole and skim milk to breakfast, lunch, afterschool snack and pre-K meals. Saturated fat from milk may be excluded in the calculation of dietary specifications however the calories, sodium and beginning July 1, 2027, added sugars from any milk type must be included in the calculation for these dietary specifications.
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SP 07 2026
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School Meal Programs: Reviewing Product-Based Added Sugars Limits for Breakfast Cereals, Flavored Milk, and Yogurt
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This memo reiterates the product based added sugar limits that were implemented during last school year.
- Breakfast cereal: no more than 6 grams of added sugar per dry ounce
- Yogurt: no more than 2 grams of added sugar per ounce
- Flavored milk: no more than 10 grams of added sugar per 8 ounce serving
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SP06-2026
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Paid Lunch Equity: Guidance for School Year 2026-2027
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Provides guidance on paid lunch equity for SY 27.
- Those SFAs with a negative foodservice fund balance on June 30, 2025 must complete the Paid lunch equity tool.
- All others can request an exemption during the SY27 renewal process.
Contact dpicnfd@nd.gov for a copy of the PLE tool.
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As a reminder, the most recent USDA memos can be found on our website under the Updates tab: UPDATES | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.
Look for many more new USDA memos at the beginning of next school year regarding the changes to the school breakfast and lunch program meal pattern to align with the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025 and the USDA/DHHS “Eat Real Food” campaign.
- Does our School Food Authority (SFA) need to submit a PLE tool for the 2026-2027 school year?
SFAs with a positive or zero balance in the nonprofit school food service account as of June 30, 2025, are exempt from PLE pricing requirements found at 7 CFR 210.14(e).
To apply for the PLE exemption, complete the attestation in the Sponsor details during the program renewal process. Once you complete the information and the renewal has been approved, this will be your record of exemption.
SFAs with a negative balance are required to submit a PLE tool for the 2026-2027 school year to ensure their prices are compliant with the PLE pricing requirements. This form has been released. Please contact dpicnfd@nd.gov for a copy.
- Is the school district able to determine the price of paid lunches solely based on what they want to charge?
For SFAs with a negative balance, they must charge at least the minimum price determined by their PLE tool.
The target price for a paid meal during SY 2026-27 is $4.16 however, you may be lower or higher than the target price.
SFAs with a zero or a positive balance can choose to complete the PLE Tool to calculate their student paid lunch price for SY 2026-27. While it is not required, it is recommended, to ensure that the paid prices can continue to cover expenses.
Some considerations when thinking about pricing include:
- Expected reimbursement. Remember, reimbursement is based on individual eligibility. No matter what the student paid lunch price is, the school will receive the same reimbursement amount regardless of the paid lunch price charged.
- Labor shortages and potential wage increases.
- Increased food costs.
- Fluctuation in participation.
- Meal quality. Remember, quality should not decrease if a school decides to lower their paid lunch prices.
- Do schools need to fill out a form or apply for the Paid Lunch Equity Waiver if the school chooses not to complete the PLE Tool?
Yes, you will need to complete the attestation that is part of the NSLP program renewal process located in the Sponsor details page.
- If a school decided not to apply for the waiver, am I correct in thinking that there is a 10 cent cap on lunch pricing?
Consistent with 7 CFR 210.14(e)(4)(i), SFAs are not required to raise their paid lunch price by more than 10 cents for SY 2026-2027 from the last year they charged for paid lunches. SFAs may still choose to raise the price by more than 10 cents.
Schools can determine how much they need to charge based on analyzing their projected income and expenses for the upcoming year.
In years when the PLE tool is required, it calculates the required price increase needed but will not require an increase greater than 10 cents in any year. This means that schools always have the option to raise prices higher if needed to cover expenses but the regulations would not require more than a 10 cent increase in a year.
For additional questions, please email: rhondaamundson@nd.gov with “PLE Tool” in the subject line.
Is someone checking temperatures of food storage areas during the summer? If food is being stored, temperatures must be recorded at least every three days during vacation periods. If foodservice staff are not available to check, possibly maintenance or administration can add this quick but important duty to their summer responsibilities. If and when the next round of equipment grants are available, take the opportunity to install remote temperature monitoring equipment on all food storage areas. Sensors, software and installation can add up quickly.
This will ensure that food is being stored safely until students return and prevent a financial loss in the school foodservice account.
ServSafe, the initial Food Safety and Sanitation certification training is being offered in Grand Forks on August 25. Register by July 31. This is a great opportunity for in-person commercial food safety training. Register here.
For those who would rather take the training from the comfort of their own office, the 8-hour ‘Food Safety in Schools’ through the Institute of Child Nutrition is available on demand at: https://theicn.docebosaas.com/learn/courses/21/FoodSafetyinSchools
New Foodservice directors and Kitchen managers should have their food safety and sanitation certification done by renewal time. Check ND Foods for training dates of the director and manager of the program. Renewal approval will be delayed if no one has a current certification at the school.
NDIT and DPI are working on the renewal forms within ND Foods and should have the renewal ready to go on July 13. You will receive notification when it opens.
We will hold a webinar to walk through the renewal process to explain how, what and why on each of the sections. New this year will be a request for second milk and entrée pricing, beginning balance of the foodservice account and for those participating in the Afterschool Snack program, the addition of this program agreement to the documents tab.
All of these and more will be explained during the normal ‘Across the Desk’ which will be held on Tuesday, July 14 at 2 p.m. CST.
👉 Register here for the July Across the Desk
Following our scheduled Across the Desk, short ‘SNP Renewal Technical Assistance Times’ will be available for anyone that has questions. These will be offered, as needed on the following dates:
- Tuesday, August 11 at 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 15 and 22, August 12 at 10 a.m.
- Thursday, July 16, and 23, August 13 at 1 p.m.
The weeks of July 27 and August 3 are not covered since staff will be attending NDSNA and the Back to School workshops.
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