Monday, October 13, 2025
Announcements from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Bureau of School Nutrition
- Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Bureau of School Nutrition (BSN)
- Other Updates and Information
Happy National School Lunch Week!
If you are still looking for ideas on how to celebrate, check out our National School Lunch Program Webpage for more information.
Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Bureau of School Nutrition (BSN)
School Nutrition Superhero Nominations!
The DPI BSN is always looking for school nutrition professionals to feature as the “School Nutrition Superhero” each month on the DPI Facebook Page. The goal is to recognize someone who is doing an excellent job in their role. If you know a School Nutrition Superhero, nominate them by sending an email to DPIFNS@dpi.wi.gov.
Food Service Management Company (FSMC) Fixed Meal Price Nonprogram Foods Sales and Meal Equivalency Rate (MER)
The DPI BSN has identified that school food authorities (SFAs) using FSMC fixed meal price contracts have been misinterpreting guidelines on nonprogram food sales, including catering. Specifically, some FSMCs have not been processing these sales through the nonprofit school food service account (also known as Fund 50) as required by federal regulations (7 CFR 210.14(f)(3)). The DPI BSN is now mandating that all nonprogram food and catering sales for the 2024-25 School Year (SY) be reprocessed correctly. This includes using the MER from the FSMC contract. Following the reprocessing, any discrepancies in payment between the SFA and the FSMC must be corrected with a refund or payment.
- Food Service Management Company (FSMC) Fixed Meal Price Request for Proposals (RFPs): Nonprogram Foods Sales and Meal Equivalency Rate - DPI BSN, 09/2025
Free and Reduced Price Eligibility Reminders
Carryover Reminder
Students with a meal benefit from the prior SY (2024-25) remain eligible for the first 30 operating days or until a new determination is made, whichever comes first. This is called carryover. A new determination may be established through direct certification (DC), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Free and Reduced Meal Application, or other source categorically eligible documentation being provided. A new determination may result in an increase or decrease in meal benefits.
The student’s effective date of eligibility is when a new determination is made. The benefit issuance (BI) list must reflect this. School food authorities (SFAs) must check their BI list after the carryover period ends to ensure only students that qualify for the current school year are included. SFAs using electronic BI lists should reach out to their software company for assistance.
During the carryover period, an “N” code on direct certification is not considered a new determination. All other DC codes (S, T, O, E, G, M, or Z) are considered new determinations. If no new determinations are made during carryover, on the 31st operating (school) day benefits are changed to “paid.” SFAs are encouraged to send households the Expiring Benefits Notification Letter to encourage them to apply for meal benefits. This letter is optional and is intended to remind households of the requirement to recertify their eligibility status annually.
Verification Reminder
To maintain the integrity of the USDA Child Nutrition Programs, each SFA must annually verify eligibility of children from a sample of household applications approved for free and reduced price meal benefits for that school year. Eligibility determinations made through Direct Certification are not subject to verification. Verification uses a sample pool of all current, approved applications on file as of Wednesday, October 1, 2025. DPI BSN notified all SFAs of the required verification sample method to be used on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. The verification process must be completed by Saturday, November 15, 2025. There are several resources available to assist SFAs on the Verification Webpage, including a tracker, nutshell, template letters, and more. Please contact one of the free and reduced eligibility and verification specialists at DPIMealEligibility@dpi.wi.gov with any questions.
Updated Resources
To assist SFAs with the meal eligibility certification and verification requirements, the DPI BSN has revamped the 4-Part Online Learning Series. These are self-paced training modules.
Reporting and Annual Claim Reminders
The following reports are required when operating the USDA Child Nutrition Programs. More information and links to the reporting portals can be found on the Reporting Webpage.
As a reminder, please reference the Calendar of Program Requirements to track upcoming reporting deadlines and program requirements.
Annual Financial Report (AFR) for SY 2024-25
- Due Date: August 31, 2025
- October Lunch Claim: October lunch claim and any future claims cannot be submitted until the report is completed.
- Portal Open: November 1, 2025
- Due Date: November 30, 2025
- October Lunch Claim: October lunch claim and any future claims cannot be submitted until the report is completed.
- Portal Open: November 1, 2025
- Due Date: November 15, 2025
- October Lunch Claim: October lunch claim cannot be submitted until the report is completed.
Verification Collection Report (VCR)
- Portal Open: November 1, 2025
- Due Date: February 1, 2026
- October Lunch Claim: Refer to the verification memo emailed September 22, 2025, with specific information on the verification process for your School Food Authority (SFA). This report is not tied to the October lunch claim. See the Verification Webpage for more information. SFAs that have not completed the VCR by the due date may be placed in claims withholding until it is completed and approved.
Wisconsin School Day Milk Program (WSDMP) Annual Claim for SY 2024-25 - if applicable
- Due Date: August 31, 2025
- October Lunch Claim: October lunch claim and any future claims cannot be submitted until the claim is submitted.
Growing Sustainable Connections: A Farm to School (F2S) Coordinator Grant!
The DPI BSN is applying for a Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Patrick Leahy (USDA) Farm to School Grant. According to the Wisconsin Statewide Farm to School Survey, funding and increased staff time are the two most critical resources schools need to expand farm to school activities. Funding from the USDA F2S grant will address both needs by providing sub-awards to hire a Farm to School Coordinator.
Funding Options
Schools may apply for a sub-award of $1,500, $4,500, or $7,500, which funds a F2S coordinator for 100, 300, or 500 hours at $15/hour. Schools must also contribute a 25% match (non-Federal funds), adding 25, 75, or 125 hours, respectively. Together, this supports F2S coordinators for a total of 125, 375, or 625 hours. F2S coordinators may focus on farm to school activities related to one or more focus areas: local procurement, nutrition and agricultural education, and/or school gardens. These sub-awards are intended to pilot the Farm to School Coordinator position, with the long-term goal of establishing a permanent coordinator role in participating schools. See the Informational Document for more details.
Action Required
To support the DPI BSN grant application, interested schools must submit a Match Commitment Letter. Complete this letter to indicate your interest and to be eligible for priority consideration if the grant is awarded. Please email your completed letter to DPIF2S@dpi.wi.gov no later than Friday, October 24, 2025.
This letter does not commit your school to accepting funding; it simply demonstrates interest if DPI BSN is awarded the grant. For questions, please contact DPIF2S@dpi.wi.gov.
Wisconsin Local Food Day!
Join us in honoring Wisconsin agriculture by participating in the inaugural Wisconsin Local Food Day! While the official celebration takes place on Thursday, November 13, participants are encouraged to take part anytime throughout November.
This year’s featured food is Wisconsin’s state fruit – the cranberry! It's the perfect time to highlight the richness of our local harvest by:
- Showcasing cranberry-infused dishes in school meals;
- Incorporating fun and informative lessons about Wisconsin’s cranberry-growing industry; or
- Teaching about the many health benefits of the local cranberry.
Register your Event to receive FREE, cranberry-scented scratch and sniff stickers and to be entered into a raffle to win a copy of Time for Cranberries by Lisl Detlefsen!
Other Updates and Information
Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) Civil Rights Course Update
ICN’s Civil Rights course reflects the USDA, FNS, Civil Rights Division’s review from Spring 2023; however, portions of the material are not aligned with recent policy changes. USDA will be revising the course, and starting Friday, October 10, 2025, it will be temporarily unavailable in iLearn. We appreciate your patience during this time.