Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Announcements from the WI DPI School Nutrition Team (SNT)
- Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team
- Other Updates and Information
Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
New Recipients of the Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards
We are pleased to announce the latest recipients of the Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards!
Ashwaubenon School District - Wisconsin (just outside of Green Bay, WI)
Award: Innovation in Nutrition Education
More information about Ashwaubenon School District and other awardees is available on the Healthy Meals Incentives Webpage.
Now Available! New Food Yields Added to the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs
New yields are now available in the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs Interactive Web-based (FBG) Tool and FBG Mobile App! New yield data is available for: USDA Foods canned mixed fruit and canned beef, smoked salmon filet, cactus fruit (prickly pear), purple rice, instant long grain brown rice, and quick cooking medium grain brown rice. Stay tuned for additional yield data releases coming soon. Explore the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs today!
Now Available! Child Nutrition Database (CNDB) Release 27
The Child Nutrition Database, Release 27 (CN27) is now available. The CNDB is a required database for nutrient analysis software approved by USDA for use in school meals.
Action Steps for Nutrient Analysis Software Companies:
To maintain USDA approval, software companies must submit their nutrient analysis software updated to include CN27 and certification of compliance software to the USDA Software Evaluation Team by Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Instructions for submitting software to USDA is being provided directly to software companies. CN27 is also available on the CNP Approved Nutrition Software PartnerWeb Community.
FNS recommends that companies update their software for their customers by the start of their school year, if possible. If you have questions about CN27 or if you are a new company seeking approval, please contact the USDA Software Evaluation Team at cnpntab@usda.gov.
Action Steps for State Agencies, School Food Authorities (SFA), and Local Schools:
After July 9, 2024, State agencies, SFAs, and local schools should verify with their nutrient analysis software company that the software includes the most current version, CN27, of the Child Nutrition Database (CNDB).
Updates from the DPI School Nutrition Team
Are You Interested in Learning More About the Free School Nutrition Software Solution SNACS?
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team invites you to join us for a live demo of SNACS. To accommodate schedules will be offering the demo* twice:
Live demo on Wednesday, April 24, 9-10:30 AM – Register Here!
Live demo on Thursday, April 25, 2-3:30PM – Register Here!
*Demos will not be recorded.
Please note these demos will not cover the Administrative Review module. Trainings on the review module will be available during School Year (SY) 2024-25.
During this demo we will highlight the following features of SNACS:
- Processing Free and Reduced Meal Applications
- Online Free and Reduced Meal Application
- Direct Certification
- Verification
- Student Management
We will also answer questions about SNACS and how to access the software. We look forward to sharing all SNACS has to offer with you!
Paid Lunch Equity: Guidance for School Year 2024-25
USDA Policy Memorandum SP 14-2024 Paid Lunch Equity Guidance for School Year (SY) 2024-25
Under Section 748 of Division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-42), Congress provided an exemption to the Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) requirements for SY 2024-25 for qualifying School Food Authorities (SFAs). In the coming week, the Authorized Representative and Food Service Director will receive an email notifying them of their SFA's PLE status. Please retain a copy of this email for your records.
SFAs Qualifying for the SY 2024-25 PLE Exemption
Any SFA with a positive or zero balance in its nonprofit school food service account as of June 30, 2023, is exempt from PLE pricing requirements found at 7 CFR 210.14(e) for SY 2024-25. The PLE exemption means your SFA does not have to complete the PLE tool, nor increase paid meal prices unless you elect to do so. Please note, paid meal prices cannot be decreased below the current school year prices, even with the exemption.
Please Note: The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team (SNT) will utilize the ending fund balance reported in the 2022-23 Annual Financial Report (AFR) submitted by all SFAs to determine which SFAs are exempt from the PLE requirements. Any SFA that had a zero-fund balance in the nonprofit school food service account and was required to make a fund transfer into the National School Lunch Program to bring the account to zero is determined to have a negative fund balance and is NOT exempt from the PLE requirements. To review your SY 2022-23 Child Nutrition Program Report (populated by data submitted in the AFR), go to Online Services.
SFAs Not Qualifying for the SY 2024-25 PLE Exemption
- that had a negative balance in the nonprofit school food service account as of June 30, 2023, must follow PLE requirements when establishing their prices for paid lunches in SY 2024-25. These SFAs must use the PLE Tool to establish paid lunch prices and may use the prices last charged to students as the basis for the SY 2024-25 paid lunch price calculation. SFAs are not required to raise their paid lunch price by more than 10 cents for SY 2024-25 from the last year they charged paid lunches. However, SFAs can choose to raise the paid lunch price by more than 10 cents. All that have been identified as being required to meet the PLE requirements will receive a separate communication from the DPI SNT with more guidance and a link to the PLE Tool.
Non pricing SFAs
All SFAs that are “non-pricing” including SFAs that operate the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) district-wide or Residential Childcare Institutions (RCCIs), are always exempt from the PLE requirements.
Seamless Summer Option (SSO) in Summer 2024
Eligible schools that would like to operate the SSO in summer 2024, must be approved prior to providing SSO meals.
To request an application, email SSO@dpi.wi.gov the following information:
- SFA name
- Agency Code
- Site(s) at which meals will be provided
- Dates of SSO operation
The application deadline is May 3, 2024. No late applications can be accepted. For more information about all 2024 summer meals programs see Summer 2024 Program Operations Bulletin.
Non-congregate Meal Sites
In summer 2024, all SSO sites are expected to serve meals in a congregate (group) setting unless approved to serve meals in a non-congregate manner. Sites will only be approved to distribute non-congregate meals if located in a Rural Area that does not have congregate meal service.
For more information, please view the Rural Non-Congregate Meals in the SSO In a Nutshell.
To request approval for non-congregate meal service, please email: SSO@dpi.wi.gov.
Wisconsin Farm to School (F2S) and Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) Statewide Information Sessions
Join F2S and F2ECE stakeholders to learn more about the great work happening with local foods in schools around Wisconsin. Updates will be provided on open grants, training opportunities, new resources, upcoming events, and current projects. Meetings will be held monthly on the fourth Thursday from 1:30-2:30 PM, with the first meeting on April 25. To register, please email: subscribe-f2s-and-f2ece@lists.dpi.wi.gov (no subject or message necessary). You will only need to register once to receive the monthly, recurring invite.
Other Updates and Information
Free Training Webinars from the Institute of Child Nutrition
The Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) offers free trainings on a broad range of topics for child nutrition professionals working in school nutrition and childcare settings.
Don't miss these upcoming webinars:
- April 4, 2024: Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition (CICN) Webinar - Unlocking the Maximum Potential of Your Combi Oven
- April 25, 2024: School Nutrition Strategies, Trainings, Action Plans, and Resources (STAR) Webinar - Best Practices for Financial Management in Schools
- May 5, 2024: Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition (CICN) Webinar - Recognition of School Chefs - Spotlight on School Meals Innovation
To receive webinar and registration information for upcoming webinars, Please Subscribe to the ICN newsletter. A link to register will be sent to subscribers one week before the webinar date.
Can't make it to a live webinar? View past webinars and learn anytime, anywhere on ICN's online learning management system, iLearn.
Midwest Farm to School Opportunities to Consider
Current Midwest Farm to School grantee, Pilot Light, has launched the application for the 2024-25 Food Education Fellowship. Teachers may Apply Here through May 27, 2024. Pilot Light created the Food Education Fellowship to invest in PreK-12 grade teacher leaders who are committed to bringing Food Education to their students. In addition to integrated Food Education lessons, Fellows will partner with an individual or organization in the food space to support student-led advocacy work within their classrooms.
Pilot Light invests in each fellow:
- 30 hours of professional development featuring industry experts
- Regular collaboration with a partner in the food space
- Continuing professional development units in IL
- One-on-One Support and Coaching from our staff and peers in the program
- $300 to a chef partner to bring a hands-on demo to the classroom
- $2,000 stipend for participation and evaluation + $300 for classroom materials
Pilot Light is trying to reach more teachers and students the IL, WI, and MI areas (Beyond just Chicagoland), and they need your help getting the word out! If you know of any teachers that may be interested, please pass along the attached flyer, or email Caitlin Arens: caitlin@pilotlightchefs.org their contact information.
For more information about Pilot Light please view their Newsletter. They will hold virtual office hours about the Fellowship on Wednesday, May 1, at 4-5p CST via Zoom. Please Register Here if you are interested in to learning more.
Additionally, Pilot Light is working on updating their online Food Education Center (FEC) and are gathering insights from our community to make the FEC as functional for Farm to School practitioners as possible. Anyone in the broader community can Fill Out This Survey to share thoughts and will be entered to win a FREE set of Food Ed. books from Readers to Eaters!
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Jill K. Underly, PhD, State Superintendent
125 S Webster Street
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-3390 • (800) 441-4563