Spotlight on Schools, October 2023

News & Notes

USDA Foods in Schools Reimbursement Rates Released for SY24  The reimbursement rates for SY 2023-24 have been released and can be found here. These numbers reflect the "national average payments," the amount of money the federal government provides states for lunches, afterschool snacks and breakfasts served to children participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. These payments and rates are in effect from July 1 through June 30 every year.

Conference Clips

FNS Presents at the School Nutrition Association 2023 Annual National Conference Thank you to everyone who attended FNS’s conference sessions and provided valuable feedback! State and local agencies learned about USDA Foods entitlement, kosher and halal school meals, and the USDA Foods Database. In case you missed it, please visit our USDA Foods in Schools program webpage to learn more. We can't wait to see you in Boston at next year's conference in July 2024!

FNS staff joined Administrator Long in Denver for the School Nutrition Association’s Annual National Conference.

Technology Synopsis

Optional Report Fields Available for Pack Units and Storage Type

With the May release, WBSCM materials now have reportable data for pack units. Several new optional fields, including calculated pack unit totals for requested quantity and good quantity, can be added to the Order Status Report, Requisition Status Report, Multi-Food Requisition Report, and related reports. The Pack Unit description and Storage Type are also available. Refer to the May WBSCM Release Notes for further details.

Screenshot of Multi Food Requisition Report showing new optional fields: Storage Type, Req. Qty in Pack Unit, and Pack Unit.

To add optional fields, click the Open Settings icon to display fields for customizing the report layout.

Screenshot of the Open Settings icon (person with a wrench) on the left side of the displayed report panel.

Then, select the new fields from the Hidden Columns section on the left and then Add to move them to Displayed Columns. Users can change the position of the new fields by using the arrows below this section to move the selected field up or down. Click Apply to update the displayed data.

Screenshot of the Column Selection tab for adding, removing, or changing order of displayed report fields.

Tip: Save the customized layout, and it will be available as a drop-down View option next time this report is generated. Click Save as… at the top of the Settings section and enter a name (no spaces).

For more information about customizing reports, refer to the Working with Standard WBSCM Reports Job Aid at Help > Training > Job Aids > Reports (JA).

WBSCM User Feedback Sessions

Based on interest expressed at the ACDA conference in April 2023, the USDA Foods Technology Branch has begun hosting monthly WBSCM user feedback sessions for SDA and RA users. These sessions are an opportunity to identify challenges and opportunities for potential enhancements and future trainings in WBSCM. The first meeting was held in May 2023. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 3 PM ET. If you are interested in participating in future sessions, please contact Samantha Escamilla.

How to Stay in the Know with USDA Foods

1. Click here to review or modify your subscription preferences.  2. Enter your email address and click "Submit." 3. Check the boxes to select your topic(s) of interest. For these e-letters, scroll down to the Food Distribution category and click the plus sign to the left of the check box to expand the list and view all the topics. Select any of these topics to receive the general e-letter plus the corresponding program-specific e-letter(s) of your choice: *USDA Foods --> receive all "USDA Foods from Farm to Plate" e-letters *Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) --> receive "Household Highlights" *The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) --> receive "Household Highlights" *Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) --> receive "FDPIR Connection" *USDA Foods in Schools --> receive "Spotlight on Schools" To receive webinar announcements, scroll down to the Webinars category and select your program(s) of interest. 4. Visit the subscriber preferences page any time you would like to review, add, or delete subscriptions. Questions? Contact USDAFoods@usda.gov. 5. Share the e-letter and new subscriber link with interested colleagues and friends!

Learn more at https://www.fns.usda.gov/usda-fis/usda-foods-schools

or contact us at USDAFoods@usda.gov.

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