


Reminders from Region 4 CN
What's new in school nutrition
π’ ACTION ITEMS
1. Texas Summer Mandate Form β Due in TX-UNPS by January 31, 2025
- School Food Authorities (SFAs) that are mandated must submit their intent to operate a summer feeding program (SSO, SFSP or Partner with another SFA) or submit a waiver seeking approval to opt out of the mandated requirement to offer a summer meal program.
- Intent form and waiver found in TX-UNPS under Applications > Texas Summer Mandate
2. NSLP Annual Financial Report Available via JotForm β Due Friday, March 28, 2025
- 2025 Annual NSLP Financial Report (FY2023- 24 Data) is now open and due by March 28, 2025. This report must be completed by all Contracting Entities (CEs) who participate in the NSLP, School Breakfast Programs (SBP), or At-Risk CACFP programs.
- The 2025 Annual NSLP Financial Report must be submitted via the following JotForm link Here.
- Resources and a webinar to assist you in completing the report are located at the following link Here
3. USDA Foods Entitlement Distribution for SY 26 β Catalogs to open January 2025 and will close Friday, February 28, 2025
- The current rate of assistance published by USDA is 0.30 cents per meal. The rate of assistance will be updated this month by USDA to reflect the final adjustments anticipated for program year 2026.
- All WBSCM logins will use Login.gov credentials, as the eAuth User ID is no longer valid
3. If you opted into the DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetables program you will also see your allocation set aside that will be loaded into FFAVORS for school year 2026 at the beginning of the program year.
4. Region 4 offers several training sessions for SFAs during the USDA Foods ordering season. Classes are offered in-person or virtually. Visit our site here for more information β WBSCM Training Sessions.
Reminders β°
USDA Inventory Management and State Contracted Warehouses
- Guidance and resources to manage USDA Foods inventory, including reports of received items and values of commodities received, are available here.
Request for Comments: Grain-Based Desserts and High-Protein Yogurt Crediting β
Comments close March 26, 2025
- USDA issued a request for information on December 26, 2024, to obtain input to help inform future policymaking, guidance, and technical assistance related to grain-based desserts and high-protein yogurt crediting in Child Nutrition Programs (CNP). Public input may be submitted to USDA through March 26, 2025.
- Additional information can be found at the USDA Food and Nutrition Service site here
- Pubic comments may be submitted online here
π RESOURCES
Revised Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs
- The Food Buying Guide (FBG) has been updated to reflect the Final Rule βChild Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.β
- Resources available here
USDA Crediting in Child Nutrition Program Sheets
- The Crediting in the Child Nutrition Program Tip Sheets have been updated to reflect the changes with the Final Rule, βChild Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.β
- Resources available here.
Texas Automated Nutrition System (TANS) to Replace TX-UNPS Beginning in Program Year 2026 β updated Systems Hub page
- Program sponsors, ESC users, and TDA staff will administer nutrition programs through TANS, including management of applications, claims, monitoring and compliance, reporting and other administrative functions
- Visit the TANS page here
New Systems Hub on SquareMeals.org
- Food and Nutrition created a consolidated webpage - Systems Hub - to assist entities in navigating to the pages more easily and quickly accessing TX-UNPS and WBSCM information, training, and the systems
- Available at www.squaremeals.org/Systems
USDA Foods/ WBSCM Information
- The information formerly located in the FDP Moduleβs Weekly Commodity Bulletin is now accessed through the Reports Module in WBSCM or warehouse tracking systems.
- See these one pagers: Weekly Commodity Bulletin Replacement and WBSCM Reports
Region 4's goal is to personally visit each contracting entity to experience your school nutrition programs (SNP) in action, celebrate your SNP accomplishments, and provide support in complying with SNP requirements. Please get in touch to schedule an in-person visit. If you have any questions or need technical assistance, please call or email Region 4 Child Nutrition Services.
βοΈ ChildNutrition@esc4.net
βοΈ: 713.744.8162