You are here

School Nutrition Bulletin 2021-45

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Announcements from the WI DPI School Nutrition Team (SNT)

Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

 

USDA Policy Memorandum SP 11-2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021: Effect on Child Nutrition Programs

The guidance below from USDA is only effective until September 30, 2021.
  • School Food Authorities (SFAs) participating in the School Breakfast Program (SBP) may credit any vegetable offered, including potatoes and other starch vegetables, in place of fruit without including vegetables from other subgroups in the weekly menu. This provides additional flexibility in planning breakfast menus, but does not require SFAs to make any menu changes.
  • SFAs may not use USDA Child Nutrition Program funds to procure raw or processed poultry products imported into the United States from the People’s Republic of China for use in the Child Nutrition Programs.
  • SFAs may offer low-fat (1% fat) flavored milk in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. This provides additional flexibility in planning school breakfast and lunch menus, but does not require SFAs to make any menu changes.
This guidance also applies to the National School Lunch Program’s Seamless Summer Option (SSO). It is acceptable for you to choose to continue without using the additional flexibilities. They are available if needed, but are optional.
 

Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team (SNT)

 

Final Reminder: School Year (SY) 2020-21 School Nutrition Program Contracts – Review Program End Dates

The School Nutrition Programs contract system will be rolling over on May 18 to prepare for school year (SY) 2021-22 contracts. Prior to rollover, it is important to ensure current SY 2020-21 National School Lunch, School Breakfast, Special Milk, and/or Afterschool Snack contracts are updated and correct to reflect program operation dates through June 30, 2021. This will ensure there is not disruption in the ability to submit claims for reimbursement. Additionally, please review the contact information for the Authorized Representative and Food Service Director to ensure it is correct and up to date.
 
If you haven’t already, please review the School Nutrition Program contract program end dates by May 13 to ensure they include any days added at the end of the school year to make-up days for snow days and for summer school meals that will be served and claimed through the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Seamless Summer Option, and the Afterschool Snack Program through June 30. Summer school meals served on July 1, 2021 or later will be included on the SY 2021-22 contract.
 
NOTE: If currently operating under the Summer Food Service Program, it is only necessary to review the School Nutrition Program contract end dates if also providing and claiming for Afterschool Snacks through the National School Lunch Program.
 
When updating contracts, be sure to update both the SFA Wide Policy Statement end dates and the Site-Specific Policy Statements (on Schedule A) for each school site. If both places on the contract are not updated, you may receive an error when submitting your May and/or June reimbursement claim.
 

Paid Lunch Equity: Guidance for School Year (SY) 2021-22

Action required by all School Food Authorities (SFAs): SFAs are required to complete this Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) Survey before June 11, 2021.
 
Although most SFAs will be operating the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) for the SY 2021-22, the PLE survey is still required. This form will take less than 5 minutes to complete and will serve as documentation on how SFAs intend to comply with the guidance described below.
 
Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCIs), SFAs participating in Provision 2, participating in Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) SFA-wide, or are non-pricing (do not charge for meals) should complete the Paid Lunch Equity Survey as well.
 
The SY 2021-22 Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) tool has not been released yet. Guidance is forthcoming from USDA regarding the PLE tool.
 
Under Section 767, of Division A of the Appropriations Act (as stated in USDA Policy Memorandum SP 11-2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021: Effect on Child Nutrition Programs), for SY 2021-22, only a school food authority that had a negative balance in the nonprofit school food service account as of December 31, 2020, shall be required to establish a price for paid lunches served through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in accordance with section 12(p) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(p)).
 
Paid Lunch Equity Q&A
Q1. My SFA is operating the SSO for SY 2021-22 and providing free meals to all students. Is the PLE Survey still required?
A1. Yes, all SFAs must complete the PLE Survey whether they are operating SSO or not.
 
Q2. My SFA is operating the Seamless Summer Option for SY 2021-22 and the nonprofit school food service account had a negative fund balance as of December 31, 2020. Does the PLE tool still need to be completed and uploaded to the online contract?
A2. Guidance from USDA is forthcoming. We will notify all SFAs of USDA’s decision of the PLE tool once we receive it.
 
Q3. My SFA has completed the PLE Survey. Is there a separate exemption form?
A3. No, the results of the PLE Survey will also serve as the PLE Exemption Form record, based on your response.
 
Q4. When should the online PLE Survey be submitted by?
A4. The PLE Survey should be completed by June 11, 2021.
 
Q5. My SFA is a CEP mixed district. Do I need to complete the PLE Survey?
A5. Yes. SFAs that are CEP mixed districts will need to complete the PLE Survey.
 
Q6. If we plan to use the PLE Tool and will not apply for a PLE exemption, does my SFA still complete the PLE Survey?
A6. Yes, all SFAs need to complete the PLE Survey.
 
Q7. Do I need to keep the email that provides a copy of my responses to the PLE Survey?
A7. Yes. This is considered a record which documents compliance and is subject to record keeping requirements (3 years plus the current school year).
 
Q8. Our SFA will update our Online Contract for SY 2021-22 in May. If the PLE Survey supports and documents that our agency qualifies for the PLE exemption, what should be uploaded into the Online Contract where a copy of the PLE Tool is requested?
A8. When your SFA qualifies for the PLE exemption (because your SFA had a zero or positive balance), and you have indicated that your SFA is not completing the PLE Tool, do not upload anything where the PLE Tool is requested. If your SFA did not qualify for an exemption, or if your SFA elected to still complete the PLE Tool and increase prices accordingly, the PLE Tool must be uploaded into the SY 2021-22 Online Contract.
 
Q9. My SFA is non-pricing (district-wide CEP, Provision 2, RCCI, or does not charge for any meals). Do I need to complete the PLE Survey?
A9. Yes, all SFAs need to complete the PLE Survey.
 

Turnip the Beet! High Quality Summer Meals Award Program

Turnip the Beet is a national award open to schools that operated the SFSP and/or SSO anytime between May 15-September 15, 2020. The award serves to recognize the service of high-quality meals to children. Criteria for high quality meals includes serving local foods, a variety of vegetables and fruit, whole grains, and low-fat and fat-free milk. Schools may self-nominate or be nominated by another party. To be eligible, a completed Nomination Form and a detailed one-month menu must be submitted to dpifns@dpi.wi.gov by September 3, 2021.
 

Educational and Enrichment Activities for the Afterschool Snack Program

One of the foundations of the Afterschool Snack Program is providing an education or enrichment activity open to all students. Here are some educational and enrichment activities you can share directly with students to go along with their afterschool snack. While the learning model may still be changing each week, you can share these links with families or print out the activity sheets and slide into a snack sack, or play the videos during snack time, as you wish.
 
 

Other Updates and Information

 

Wellness Policy Resources

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation has several recorded webinars that may be useful for the process of revising your school wellness policies for the upcoming school year. Create a free account to access these sessions.
----------------------------------------------------------------
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
 
This is a communication from the WI Department of Public Instruction, School Nutrition Team.
You can contact the School Nutrition Team at dpifns@dpi.wi.gov. To subscribe to schoolmealsnews, please send an email to dpifns@dpi.wi.gov. dpi.wi.gov/school-nutrition #WISchoolMealsRock