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Monthly Newsletter for Child Nutrition Administrators
"I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
I think I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
Look all around, there's nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead, nothing but blue skies"
I Can See Clearly Now
— Johnny Nash
LISTEN TO THE LATEST NEWS
2024-25 INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
The 2024-25 Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEGs) for all child nutrition and household programs have been released and posted to SquareMeals.org on the Income Eligibility Guidelines page.
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CEP & THE CEP REPORT
What is CEP?
CEP stands for Community Eligibility Provision, and it provides students with meals at no cost without requiring school districts to collect free and reduced-price meal household applications.
Eligibility Criteria
CEP schools must have a minimum of 25% of identified students certified for free school meals without an application based on the students’ enrollment in a designated assistance program. The provision allows schools to provide enrolled students meals at no cost as part of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.
Claiming Process
The identified student percentage (ISP) multiplied by a factor of 1.6 equals the percentage of total meals served that will be reimbursed at the federal free rate.
The remaining percentage of total meals is reimbursed at the federal paid rate. Any meal costs in excess of the total federal reimbursement must be covered through non-federal sources, such as general revenue, private donations, or grants (non-federal).
Is the CEP Report Required?
The CEP Report is a requirement for all school food authorities, whether you participate in this program or not. The only ones that are exempt are RCCIs.
The CEP Report shows which sites are eligible to participate in this program based on the identified student percentage (ISP) and provides valuable information to TDA and USDA.
The CEP Report is due into TX-UNPS by March 20, 2024. Missing this deadline can result in TDA issuing corrective action documentation.
Need Resources?
TDA has created the CEP Reporting Tips publication that provides general information about CEP, helpful tips, and a step-by-step guide on accessing and submitting the CEP Report.
The Special Provisions page on Squaremeals.org has a helpful questions and answers section regarding CEP.
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2024 ANNUAL NSLP FINANCIAL REPORT
This report must be completed by Contracting Entities (CEs) who participate in the NSLP, School Breakfast Programs (SBP), School Milk Program (SMP), or At-Risk Child and Adult Care Food Programs (CACFP) and must be completed by an authorized representative. The CE must ensure that the reported data is accurate and reflects the CE’s financial operations for the fiscal period reported.
The Need to Know...
Data used for the 2024 school year (SY) will be the prior fiscal year (2022-23) from audited financial reports. For public school districts and charter schools, this is the same data submitted to TEA.
The Financial Report must be completed by an authorized representative. You must ensure that the reported data is accurate and reflects the financial operations for the fiscal period reported.
If data is determined to be invalid, TDA will issue corrective action documentation.
The 2024 NSLP Financial Report submittal due date deadline is March 31, 2024.
JotForm Access
The 2024 Financial Report will be completed here.
Resources
Here is a blank NSLP Annual Financial Report to assist with completing the JotForm.
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TRACK UPDATE - ALTERNATE MEALS
As outlined in ARM Section 19: Meal Pricing, contracting entities (CEs) have two options in providing a lower-cost meal to students who have exceeded the number or amount for meals based on the charge policy. TDA recently updated guidance on the lowest cost reimbursable meal after receiving USDA clarification.
CEs must cover the student cost of reimbursable alternate meals by one of the following:
- Paying for these meals from the local/general fund OR
- Adjusting the paid lunch equity (PLE) tool (download) to factor in the meal price of $0.00 for alternate lunches.
Reimbursable alternate meals are still claimed by the student's eligibility.
Have Questions?
Contact an ESC 11 Child Nutrition Specialist regarding this update.
SPRING BREAK FEVER
LEAD TO SUCCEED
The LEAD grant is ending, but you have another opportunity to earn up to five (5) CEUs this month! The following classes available are:
- How Do You Bring Value to the Workplace | March 11
- The Power of Emotional Intelligence | March 12
- Getting Your Ideas Adopted | March 28
- Conflict Style Inventory | March 29
Register here.
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DEAR ROSIE,
Our school district received funds from TDA, and they are not our claims. Do you know which account the money should go in and what it is for?
Sincerely,
Confused But Swimming in Money
Hi CONFUSED,
It's great to have additional funds, but we understand for accounting purposes, the money should be credited to the correct account. All funds from TDA should be credited to the 240 account or the child nutrition account (for those of you without a 240 account).
The most recent deposits outside of claims were the fourth round of Supply Chain Assistance Grants and reduced-price breakfast reimbursement. (The latter is coded RP-SBP.)
You can search for payments from TDA or any other state agency on the comptroller's Search State Payments Issued website. You can even sign up to receive email alerts when payments are issued using their Advanced Payment Notification (APN) feature. Click here for instructions on how to use the payment search function on the comptroller’s website.
Sincerely,
ROSIE
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TURN UP THE VOLUME: DEADLINES APPROACHING
MARCH 20
CEP Report in TX-UNPS
MARCH 31
Financial Report (jotform)
APRIL 15
SFSP New CE Application
JUNE 30
SNP Application Packet Due in TX-UNPS
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RESOURCES AND LINKS
- Administrative Review Resources on our website
- SNA 2023-24 Promotional Calendar
- 2023-24 Breakfast and Lunch Meal Pattern Chart
- The ICN On-Demand Training
- SNA Recipe Library
- A Yummy Curriculum
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REQUEST TIME: REGISTER FOR A CLASS
MARCH 20
Local Wellness Policy/Smart Snacks
MARCH 28
The Monthly Rewind Webinar
APRIL 10
Food Production Records
APRIL 17-19
Financial Management: A Course for SNP Directors and Procurement of Foods (Co-ops)
MAY 9
The Monthly Rewind Webinar
JUNE 4-6
ESC 11 Summer Conference (Registration opens April 1)
- June 4: Frontline Staff
- June 5-6: Administrative and Management Staff
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ESC REGION 11 CHILD NUTRITION
Email: padams@esc11.net
Website: https://www.esc11.net/childnutrition
Location: 1451 South Cherry Lane, White Settlement, TX, USA
Phone: 817-740-7545
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ESC11ChildNutrition