School Nutrition Newsletter
September 30, 2020
School Re-Entry Guidance and Updates for School Nutrition Programs
- The Re-Entry Guidance Newsletter for schools continues to be updated with new information and resources.
- Click here to access the newsletter.
- IDOE's Re-Entry webpage, which houses resources from IDOE and USDA in regards to re-entry, also continues to be updated.
- Click here to access this webpage.
Claims Reminders and Updates
- Schools should make sure that they are accurately completing their claims for the program(s) they have operated for each month.
Average Daily Attendance (ADA) – Enter the average number of participants the site had each day for the month. Typically this is the average number of enrolled students, but due to the unique circumstances, just average participants of the meal programs. Do not enter a percentage.
- Please note that schools may have to complete a claim for part of a month for NSLP in the purple puzzle piece and for the other part of the month for SFSP in the blue puzzle piece.
If a July or August NSLP claim has been filed and are switching to SFSP, retroactively claiming for those months, please contact SCNFinance@doe.in.gov to assist clearing out or modifying the NSLP claim.
- Utilize one of the button options below for more claims information.
- For questions about claims, please reach out to scnfinance@doe.in.gov.
CNPweb Help Form Reminder
- Schools should continue to utilize the CNPweb Help Form for questions about the purple piece.
- Please note that the CNPweb Help Form should not be used for questions about the blue puzzle piece/Summer Food Service Program or for questions about claims.
- For questions about Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), please reach out to your field specialist or summermeals@doe.in.gov.
- For questions about claims, please reach out to scnfinance@doe.in.gov.
- Click here to access the CNPweb Help Form.
Verification Begins October 1
- Beginning Thursday, October 1, sponsors should start their annual verification process.
- Verification is still required for any sponsor that approved applications for free or reduced meal benefits on or before October 1st.
- Sponsors that are currently operating SSO or SFSP are still required to conduct verification as long as they approved applications for free or reduced meal benefits on or before October 1.
- Step 1: Before Thursday, October 1, sponsors need to pull their Direct Certification match to make sure they have identified all of the DC-eligible students in their schools. Conduct a DC Standard Match, No Counties Match, Extended Eligibility Match, and DC Lookups. Make sure any application with all students identified as DC are excluded from verification.
- Step 2: Determine your verification method, count total applications on file, and pull applications for verification.
- Step 3: Someone other than the original application processer must conduct a confirmation review on all applications pulled for verification. This ensures the application was approved correctly in the first place.
- Step 4: Try to look up students on these applications through Direct Verification. For a quick guide on Direct Verification, check out this fact sheet.
- Step 5: Send out notification letters to any household that could not be Direct Verified. Make sure you give households enough time to respond and a clear due date. Conduct at least one follow-up contact if households do not respond to the first notification.
- Step 6: Letters announcing verification results or notification of adverse action must be mailed. Verification must be completed by Sunday, November 15.
- For more information about verification, including a Verification Quick Guide, visit IDOE's Verification Webpage.
- Use this Verification Tracking Spreadsheet to keep the verification process organized.
- Don't forget! IDOE is hosting a Verification Webinar Series breaking down the verification process each month. Click here for more details and to register.
- Questions about verification? Contact Allie Caito-Sipe.
Happy National Farm to School Month!
- We can't believe National Farm to School month is about to be here tomorrow!
- October is National Farm to School month, and IDOE can't wait to see how YOU participate this year!
- Don't forget that the theme for Indiana Food Day this year is to celebrate spinach!
- Also, don't forget about the Great Apple Crunch! An easy, exciting way to get your school involved with farm to school.
- For more information about these awesome events, visit IDOE's Farm to School Webpage and click on the Farm to School Month Celebrations dropdown.
- Questions? Contact Maggie Schabel at mschabel@doe.in.gov.
USDA Foods Toolkit for Food Service Directors
- Don't forget! The Food Distribution Program has a Toolkit on USDA Foods that provides a wealth of knowledge for schools wanting more information about the program.
- In the toolkit you will find:
- Overview of USDA Foods - includes a brief overview of USDA Foods and the Food Distribution Program
- Calendar of Important Dates - provides important dates for the school year
- USDA Foods Distribution Program Handbook - a comprehensive look at the Indiana Food Distribution Program and USDA Foods
- USDA Foods Distribution Program Checklist - a checklist to keep food service professionals on track with the Food Distribution Program
- Brokers and Companies Represented SY-21 (Updated 07-06-20) - a list of contacts for company represented brokers to find out what USDA Foods bulk products are being processed and what they are being processed into
- USDA Foods Training - online training of various USDA Foods topics
- Click here to access these helpful resources.
- Questions? Contact Cheryl Moore at cmoore@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