School Nutrition Program Updates
6/5/2020
DUE 6/5/2020! Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Report
TDA requests that SFAs submit their CEP Report to TDA by June 5, 2020 to allow TDA time to prepare required reports.
Only count the Directly Certified Students as Identified Students.
Directly Certified/Identified Students - Students certified WITHOUT an application due to participation in one of the approved programs.
*Do not count students approved by a meal application.
Supporting documentation of the CEP report must be kept on file.
· DC Student List - List of directly certified students collected from TXELMS for the CEP report. This list should include ALL DC students; students on the DC report and local categorical DC students.
· DC Report - report collected from TXELMS in March for updating the DC student list.
· Local Categorical Lists - All lists provided for local categorically eligible students. (FDPIR, Foster, Homeless, Migrant, Runaway, State-Funded Pre-K) The signature of a person who provided the list is needed. The signature can be electronic as in an email.
· Enrollment per site
If you are considering participating in CEP, I suggest completing the estimator worksheet to determine if it will be a financial burden.
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Federal Reimbursement Estimator Worksheet
CEP information is located on the Special Provisions webpage and the section 5 Special Provisions of the ARM on square meals.
P-EBT Requirements
All Districts are required to announce the P-EBT information.
P-EBT is for children who received SNAP food benefits for March 2020 and for children who are certified for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2019-20 Texas school year. Children who attend a school that offers free meals to all students (Community Eligibility Provision or Provision 2 schools) are eligible. Foster youth, migrant youth, homeless youth, runaway youth, and Head Start participants are also eligible for P-EBT.
See the following link for the announcement letters.
The P-EBT Overview and Communications Tool Kit is the best resource to understand the responsibility of the district.
Summer Feeding Outreach
TDA has developed no-cost, online resources you can use to spread the word about the availability of these meals for families in need. Visit SummerFood.org/OutreachTools to download a social media support packet, press releases, newspaper ads, and more. Many resources are available in English and Spanish.
PY 20-21 SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM (SNP) APPLICATION LAB
Join us via ZOOM to understand the requirements of submitting the PY 20-21 School Nutrition Program application. The meeting will provide technical assistance to all School Nutrition Program Contracting Entities. No registration is required.
What: School Nutrition Program Application Guidance
When: June 10, 2020 ~ 10 am 12 pm
Where: Via Zoom ~ Click the link provided
https://zoom.us/j/97535736920?pwd=bnhmL2xYVG0xektzSFJ3VkNoY3lSQT09
Although the USDA /TDA COVID-19 flexibility postponed the deadline until August 31, 2020, it is important to submit the application as soon as possible. If you are considering participating in CEP, early submission is important as there is a process to implement.
SY 20-21 PAID LUNCH EQUITY (PLE) TOOL LAB
Join via ZOOM to review the steps of completed the PLE Tool for SY 20-21.
What: Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) Tool
When: June 17, 2020 ~ 10 am - 11 am
Where: Via Zoom ~ Click the link provided
https://zoom.us/j/93927790223?pwd=ZWNqL1Qyb1VqblhlNEVuRTFPRWdldz09
Schools are required to charge students for paid meals at a price that is, on average, equal to the difference between free meal reimbursement and paid meal reimbursement. Schools that currently charge less for meal prices than the amount needed to create paid lunch equity are required to 1) gradually increase their prices overtime until they meet the requirement or 2) supplement their food service operating funds with non-federal funds to ensure equity. USDA has developed School Year (SY) 2020-2021 Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) Tool, an Excel-based PLE Tool with user instructions the CEs may use to determine the price increase necessary to meet the requirement.
In order to complete the tool you must have the weighted average from the last year’s PLE tool. TDA recommends all CEs complete the PLE Tool annually, even CEP, P2, and those who elected to accept the exemption. *Not a requirement for RCCIs
Annual SNP Financial Report
Sound Financial Practices - Describes key concepts in financial management and identifies resources for financial reporting.
See the ARM section 14, Financial Information Concerning School Nutrition Funds to reference financial requirements.
2020 Child Nutrition Summer Workshop
Sessions will be offered via ZOOM on July 22 and July 23, 2020, from 9 am - 12 pm each day. It is recommended that you log in at 8:45 am to be prepared to begin promptly at 9 am.
Be prepared to share registration information with your staff. Some considerations for assisting your staff may include offering a lab for staff to attend training and assistance with possible technical issues.
Participants will register for workshops at esc6.net and will receive a certificate of completion the same as before.
You do not have to have a Zoom account to attend a Zoom session. You will be prompted to download the software, once you have clicked on the link provided for the session. You may also wish to create an account, but that is not required to participate in a Zoom meeting.
See the attached Student Zoom User Guide to familiarize yourself and your staff.
Wednesday, Jul 22, 2020, 09:00 AM
undefined
Professional Standards aka Continued Education Hours
All Directors: at least 12 hours of annual continuing education/training. This required continuing education/training is in addition to the food safety training required in the first year of employment and every 5 yrs thereafter.
All Managers: at least 10 hours of annual continuing education/training.
All Other Staff: at least 6 hours of annual continuing education/training.
Part-Time Staff: at least 4 hours of annual continuing education/training, regardless of the number of part-time hours worked.
For more information visit USDA's website:
https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/professional-standardsCOVID-19 Meal Service Updates
Please see the most recent highlighted updates of the FAQs, 6/5/2020 for the COVID-19 meal service.
See the direct link for the Texas list of waivers.
https://www.fns.usda.gov/disaster/pandemic/covid-19/texas#cn
The list below is of the most frequently implemented waivers. This list is not all-inclusive.
- Meal Times Waiver - Nationwide Waiver extended through August 31
- Non-Congregate Feeding Waiver - Nationwide Waiver through August 31
- Nationwide Meal Pattern Waiver - State Selected Option Extended through June 30
- Nationwide Waivers of Child Nutrition Monitoring - State Selected Option
- Local School Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment - State Selected Option
**It is the responsibility of the CE to submit the intake form for each waiver you implement. Keep a copy for your records.
COVID-19 Intake Waiver Forms
In order to implement Nationwide Waivers and other statewide waivers related to COVID-19, Program operators need to submit their intent to participate along with additional information. Choose the applicable Intake Form from the list below:
- Summer Area Eligibility
- Local Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment Postponement
- Schools - Non-Congregate Meal Service under the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) or Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
- Private Non-Profits - Non-Congregate Meal Service under SFSP
- Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Non-Congregate Meal Service
- No Child Present Waiver Intake Form (SFSP, SSO, NSLP/SBP and CACFP)
- No Child Present Waiver Intake Form (FFVP)
- Meal Pattern Waiver Intake Form
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program Delivery Flexibilities
Note that TDA will add more intake forms to this list as they are created. Forms will also be posted on the Programs' respective Resources pages.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. This program is funded by the USDA.
Cindy Scott
Dina Herrick
Julie Dorman
This Institution is an equal opportunity provider. This program is funded by the USDA.