Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Announcements from the WI DPI School Nutrition Team (SNT)
Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
USDA Policy Memorandum SP 11-2023 Paid Lunch Equity Guidance for School Year (SY) 2023-24
In Section 752 of Division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328), enacted on December 29, 2022, Congress provided an exemption to the Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) requirements for SY 2023-24 for qualifying School Food Authorities (SFAs).
SFAs Qualifying for the SY 2023-24 PLE Exemption
Any SFA with a positive or zero balance in its nonprofit school food service account as of June 30, 2022, is exempt from PLE pricing requirements found at 7 CFR 210.14(e) for SY 2023-24. 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.
NOTE: The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team (SNT) will utilize the ending fund balance reported in the 2021-22 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 2021-22 Child Nutrition Program Report (populated by data submitted in the AFR), go to Online Services.
SFAs Not Qualifying for the SY 2023-24 PLE Exemption
SFAs that had a negative balance in the nonprofit school food service account as of June 30, 2022, must follow PLE requirements when establishing their prices for paid lunches in SY 2023-24. 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 2023-24 paid lunch price calculation. SFAs are not required to raise their paid lunch price by more than 10 cents for SY 2023-24 from the last year they charged paid lunches. However, SFAs can choose to raise the paid lunch price by more than 10 cents. All SFAs 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.
Now Available! New Food Yields Added to the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs Interactive Web-based Tool and FBG Mobile App!
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 these highly requested foods: apple bananas, chokecherries, taro, and fresh apples. Stay tuned for additional yield data releases coming soon. Explore the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs today!
Other Updates and Information
Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN): Leadership Chat and Learn-Work/Life Balance Job Aid
Date: April 20, 2023
Time: 2:00 PM CST
The Leadership Chat and Learn Series is designed to connect INC and Child Nutrition Professionals by educating, elevating, and empowering the leadership discussion. These sessions are intended for all Child Nutrition Professionals and programs seeking leadership networking opportunities.
Join ICN Education and Training Specialists to discuss the Work/Life Balance Job Aid. Visit ICN Leadership webpage for more information and to download the job aid.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Jill K. Underly, PhD, State Superintendent
125 S Webster Street
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-3390 • (800) 441-4563