May 20, 2024   

ODE Memos

• SY 2024-2025 Renewal for State Agency-Sponsor Agreement
• Oregon Waiver - Noncongregate Meal Service due to Excessive Heat

USDA MEMOS

• SP 18-2024 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024: Effect on Child Nutrition
  Programs
• SP 19-2024 - Initial Implementation Memorandum - Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• SP 15-2024 - Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas: Questions and Answers #2

UPDATES

Revised Breakfast After the Bell Required sites and Exempt Eligible Site List

Due to data updates, the  SY 2024-25 Breakfast After the Bell Required and Exempt Eligible Site List has been revised.  The revised list is posted to the Meal Pattern and Nutritional Quality webpage under the Breakfast After the Bell Section.

This site list shows which sites are required to provide Breakfast after the Bell and which sites are eligible for the exemption from that requirement for school year 2024-2025.   Please review this revised list as it may have an impact on completing the after Breakfast After the Bell section on your Site Info Sheets in CNPweb for renewal. 

Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Final Rule

On April 25, 2024, USDA released the final rule updating school nutrition standards.

There is a phased in approach to the implementation of the final rule and SFA’s are not required to implement any of the new standards until School Year 2025-26.

Key areas of note where there are significant changes are:

• Added Sugars: Starting in school year 2025-26 (July 1, 2025), there will be a limit on the amount of added sugars allowed for specific foods that tend to be higher in added sugars: breakfast cereals, yogurt, and flavored milk. Starting in school year 2027-28 (July 1, 2027), in addition to limits on added sugars in those specific foods, no more than 10 percent of weekly calories in the meals can be from added sugars.
• Sodium: By school year 2027-28 (July 1, 2027), schools will implement a single achievable reduction to sodium for school breakfast (10 percent decrease) and lunch (15 percent decrease).
• Meat/Meat Alternates at Breakfast: The final rule establishes a combined grains and meats/meat alternates meal component in the SBP and removes the requirement for schools to offer 1.0 ounce equivalent of grains each day at breakfast.
• Supports more culturally inclusive meals, including traditional Indigenous foods in schools serving primarily American Indian and Alaska Native students.
• Buy American Provision: Gradually phases in a limit to non-domestic food purchases so that no more than 5 percent of school food authority total food purchases can come from outside of the U.S.

USDA has developed a final rule landing page  that includes resources to support implementation of the updated standards including infographics, comparison charts highlighting changes to program requirements, implementation timelines, frequently asked questions, and more.

Cascade School District Wins Healthy Meals Incentives

We proudly announce that Cascade School District received a Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Award for making improvements to the nutritional quality of their district’s school meals.

Awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in collaboration with Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK), Cascade School District received the Innovation in the Preparation of School Meals Award for their work in implementing scratch cooking into their menu. They have many tasty scratch items that the students enjoy including macaroni and cheese, pulled pork burritos, and chicken tetrazzini. All of these recipes were developed to include all scratch made sauces.

AFHK is recognizing school districts to 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 – all as part of a cooperative agreement to develop and implement the USDA FNS’s Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative. Learn more about the Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards at https://healthymealsincentives.org/recognition-awards/.

New Procurement Resource available!

The Oregon Department of Education Child Nutrition Procurement Compliance staff have recently created a new resource for program operators for all Child Nutrition Programs. All sponsoring organizations of a USDA Child Nutrition Program must follow federal procurement requirements found in 2 CFR 200 Subpart D.

It is a top priority of the Procurement Compliance team to assist program sponsors with understanding these regulations. One way to achieve this is by offering information resources that are available to program operators at any time.

With this goal, they have created a new Child Nutrition Program At-A-Glance Procurement Reference Sheet. The goal was a one page, printable, overview and job aid. The document covers some of the most high-level procurement related topics such as general standards, thresholds, and procurement methods as well as the highly requested “terminology crosswalk” between State and Federal Procurement.

This document can be found on ODE’s Procurement Resources webpage under the Procurement Resources heading, along with many other helpful informational sources.

Any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this CNP At-A-Glance Procurement Reference Sheet can be directed to Jared Puckett, CNP Procurement Compliance Specialist at  Jared.Puckett@ODE.Oregon.gov or via phone at 971-208-2407.

           Breakfast After the Bell (BAtB)

Good News!

An additional allocation has been released for the Breakfast After the Bell Equipment Grant and an extension provided for the performance period end date to June 30, 2025. 

Eligible recipients will receive an email notice with an amended agreement from the ODE Procurement Department.  An additional $83.70 will be added to the original grant of $3158 for a total of $3,241.70. In addition, the amendment will include the performance period end-date extension to June 30, 2025, to procure your equipment.

Due to the revised SY 2024-25 Breakfast After the Bell Required and Exempt Eligible Site List, some sites were added as required to serve Breakfast after the Bell to their students.  These new sites will be included in the BAtB equipment grant agreement.  Should you district elect to receive funds, the grant agreement must be signed and returned to ODE Procurement.  Qualifying sponsors that submit the agreement will receive $3,241.70.  If a site is eligible for the exemption and the sponsor receives an approved exemption, then this site will not receive the BAtB equipment grant.

In the next few weeks, you will receive an email with either a new agreement or amended agreement from ODE Procurement. Please follow the instructions in the email. Please note that the agreement or amendment must be signed and returned to the Procurement Department within two weeks. Failure to sign and return the agreement in a timely manner, will result in a delay for all sponsors to receive this supplement. 

Please note: This information may be subject to change if we encounter unforeseen circumstances. We will keep you posted in newsletters and emails if there are any changes.    

If you have questions regarding the BatB Equipment grant, please contact Laura Allran at laura.allran@ode.oregon.gov.

Breakfast Recipes:

Mango Smoothie Bowl 5 Star USDA Recipe, One smoothie bowl (³⁄4 cup) provides 1 oz equivalent meat alternate and ¹⁄2 cup fruit.

Baked Berry Oatmeal Food Hero Cooking for a Crowd Recipe, Bake in the morning-the aroma will bring the kids to breakfast! Or bake ahead to save time in the morning!

Fun Ideas?   Please share your ideas, what’s working well, and any questions with us any time. Crista Hawkins and Laura Allran.