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2023 Texas Summer Mandate Notification and Waiver

Texas Legislation requires school districts to participate in a summer meal program if 50% or more of the enrolled children are eligible to receive free/reduced-price NSLP meals based on the March 2020 claim. TDA allows mandated schools to request a waiver from participating in a summer feeding program by completing the waiver section of the Texas Summer Mandate screen in TX-UNPS. The waiver opens on November 1 and must be completed by January 31. TDA has notified mandated districts via email to submit their intent in TX-UNPS. For more information, click here.

Onsite Monitoring Forms Due February 1

For CEs who operate NSLP and SBP, onsite monitoring forms must be completed by February 1. All NSLP sites must be reviewed once, and 50% of breakfast sites must be reviewed once. Find the monitoring forms on SquareMeals.org under Administration/Forms.

NSLP Annual Financial Report

The 2023 Annual NSLP Financial Report (FY2022 data) is now open. The report is due March 31. Join us for in-depth training on March 1. The registration link will be posted soon.

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COOL TOOLS

• Discover MyPlate: Nutrition Education for Kindergarten — a fun and inquiry-based nutrition education that fosters the development of healthy food choices and physically active lifestyles
• Whole Grains Quiz from USDA Team Nutrition
• 2023 America's Healthiest Schools Award — opens this month
• The Lunch Box — tools for all things Child Nutrition
• Pilot Light — food education

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What is a master list?

A master list contains detailed information about all students (free, reduced-price, and paid) enrolled at each site that may be useful for program planning, eligibility determination, verification, or other needs. The list commonly includes the following information:

• Student's name
• Student's date of birth
• Campus location
• Eligibility status
• Date of eligibility determination
• Date and notation of any changes in status grade level
• Source of eligibility status (may be more than one)
• Teacher

This list can be maintained through the POS system or Excel or even be handwritten.

Why is this so important?

Every year we are required to report enrollment and free/reduced information through the verification and CEP reports. The best way to ensure the reporting of accurate information is to maintain accurate information! Utilizing a master list helps you to know if students qualify for benefits through DC, application, or by extension from another student.

Refer to ARM Section 20 for more information. Also, join us for the Spring Reports class on March 1 for a detailed look at the master list.

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My New Year's resolution is to get more organized, but last year my desk looked like a bag of opened confetti poppers. I thought my claim was due on the last day of the month, but I just realized it was actually due on the 29th!!! That day has come and gone like my winter break. What do I do?

Sincerely,

CLAIM WITH NO NAME

Yikes! What a New Year's Nightmare! The deadline for filing claims is 60 calendar days (not two months) from the end of the claim month. So, it's really important to check those claim deadlines and pencil them in on your calendar. TDA has created a list of these deadlines, which are available for download here.

Fortunately, TDA does allow CEs to file one (1) late claim in a 36-month period. You only get to do it once, so you need to stay on top of those claims! To request the one-time exception, CEs must submit a corrective action plan to BCT.BOps@TexasAgriculture.gov, indicating the following:

• Reason for submitting the late claim
• Actions the CE will take to avoid repetition of the situation
• Actions the CE will take to prevent any future late claim submissions
• Signature of an authorized CE representative (someone listed in TX-UNPS)

Want to know more? Check out ARM section 20, pages 43-45.

Sincerely,

ROSIE

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JANUARY 15

SFSP Application Opens

JANUARY 26

(suggested) Schedule 2nd Health Inspection

JANUARY 29

November Claim Due

JANUARY 31

FDP Contract Packet due in TX-UNPS

Summer Mandate due in TX-UNPS

FEBRUARY 1

Onsite Monitoring complete for all sites

FEBRUARY 28

Board approved MRPC Local agreement due to join the Region 10 Multi-region Co-op for SY23-24

MARCH 1

CEP Report Opens

MARCH 6-10

School Breakfast Week

MARCH 21

CEP Report Due

MARCH 31

Financial Report Due

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• Administrative Review Resources on our website

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JK 1.6.23

BM 1.6.23