School Nutrition Newsletter
March 17, 2021
School Meals: A Year to Remember
As we reach the one year mark of serving school meals during COVID, IDOE wants to pause and reflect by sharing a video to celebrate and thank school food service.
Updates from IDOE
Reminder! USDA Announces Extension of Summer Waivers
- USDA has announced the nationwide extension of several waivers that allow all children to continue to receive nutritious meals this summer when schools are out of session through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Summer Seamless Option (SSO).
- These flexibilities for SFSP and SSO are now available through September 30, 2021.
- The waivers extended allow for safe meal distribution sites that serve all children for free, regardless of income. The waivers:
- Allow meals served through SFSP and SSO to be made available in all areas at no cost;
- Allow meals to be served outside of the normally required group settings and meal times; and
- Allow parents and guardians to pick-up meals for their children, including bulk pick-up to cover multiple days of feeding children.
The start of the 2021-2022 school guidance should be out in the next couple of months.
- New! Click here for more information on the waivers.
Special Dietary Needs Resources Updated
Resources including the English and Spanish medical statement form including parent letters have both been updated.
IDOE has also updated the special dietary needs courses on inTEAM including making the courses into a seamless series.
For guidance in navigating the new inTEAM eLearning system, click here.
Click here to access IDOE's Special Dietary Needs Webpage, which includes the updated medical statement form, IDOE's Special Dietary Needs Manual, cycle menus, parent information sheets in Spanish and English, and more!
Upcoming Trainings
Updates from Our Partners
P-EBT Collection Date
- The next collection window for student data submission is now open and will remain open until Friday, April 16.
- New! Corporations and schools will now need to complete a submission for each month of eligibility separately.
- Student data corrections for October to December 2020 will also be accepted through the portal during this period, for eligible day count and date of birth only.
- Corporations and schools must submit eligibility data for January 2021 and February 2021 during this window through the FSSA P-EBT Portal, accessible via the IDOE LINK Portal. If your school was directly invited previously to the P-EBT Portal, continue to login directly here.
- Please refer to the submission guidance information and parent flyer on the FSSA: DFR Pandemic EBT website.
- New! Specific details regarding the changes to the P-EBT submission process and the corrections process can be found in this communication.
- Questions about P-EBT? Contact FSSA at pebtq@fssa.in.gov. Please note that this e-mail is ONLY for school use and should not be given to parents.
Free LEAD to Succeed Training
Learn, Educate, Advance and Develop your professional skills with the School Nutrition Foundation’s brand-new LEAD to Succeed™ FREE training program, created and recommended for directors and managers.
This program offers school nutrition professionals (members and non-members) the opportunity to build their communication and leadership skills, improve their programs, and strengthen their school nutrition teams.
The four self-paced online learning modules can be completed on your computer, tablet, or smartphone, via the School Nutrition Association Training Zone.
To learn more and enroll, click here.
Upcoming School Nutrition Association (SNA) Back to School Virtual Summit
Join food service professionals across the country for SNA's Rebuilding Together: Back to School Virtual Summit on Tuesday, May 4 and Thursday, May 6.
Learn how state agencies, industry representatives, school administrations, and school nutrition operators are redefining their relationships and supporting one another to open new avenues of revenue and feed more students.
This is a great opportunity to hear strategies to get "back on track" and plan for School Year 2021-22.
Click here to register.
Vaccination Information
All teachers and staff in PK-12 and childcare programs are now able to schedule a vaccine at any state site by going to https://ourshot.in.gov or calling 211.
Appointments in your immediate area may be scheduled out several weeks, so be sure to look at surrounding counties, which may have earlier availability.
🧇🍳How did you celebrate National School Breakfast Week?!
- IDOE wants to hear how your school celebrated National School Breakfast Week this year!
- Submit your stories, pictures, and videos to SCNTrainings@doe.in.gov.
Contact Us
Indiana Department of Education - School and Community Nutrition
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this newsletter, please contact Allie Caito-Sipe at acaito@doe.in.gov, call (317) 232-0849, or toll-free at 1-800-537-1142 ext. 20849, or contact Ashley Heller at aheller@doe.in.gov, call (317) 232-0544, or toll-free at 1-800-537-1142 ext. 20544.
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Website: https://www.doe.in.gov/nutrition
Phone: (317) 232-0850
Twitter: @EducateIN