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Monthly Newsletter for Child Nutrition Administrators

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HITS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

March 2022

ESC Region 11 Child Nutrition

"The sun is on my side
And takes me for a ride
I smile up to the sky
I know I'll be alright"

Pocketful of Sunshine

--Songwriters: John Shanks / Natasha Bedingfield / Danielle Brisebois

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LISTEN TO THE LATEST NEWS

POLICY UPDATES & COMPLIANCE REMINDERS

If your district has not completed the form FND-135 to designate a User Access Manager in TX-UNPS, do so today! TDA is retiring the form FND-101 this spring!

P-EBT PLAN FOR SY2021-22 APPROVED

USDA has approved the state plan for P-EBT for this school year. Find out all of the ins and outs of the revised program:

TEA Memo outlines plan
USDA State Guidance on P-EBT includes Q&A
Recorded ESC Region 11 training and materials (3/21/22)

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SSO SITE APPLICATION GUIDANCE FOR THIS SUMMER

Sites that have not been previously approved will be created per standard SSO processing guidelines.
To streamline SSO application data entry, TDA will not require newly created sites to indicate summer operations when normal school ends and summer begins. Instead, existing sites will be revised to indicate summer operations.
DO NOT TOUCH YOUR APPLICATION UNTIL …. You Read this document in its entirety.

SUMMER OUTREACH NUMBER HAS CHANGED

As of February 1, 2022, all summer meal materials (printed and digital) must be recycled.
All resources on www.SummerFood.org/OutreachTools have been updated with the new number, 304-304.
Summer sponsors and sites can now order new materials here.

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Eligibility Carryover for 2022-2023

TDA is encouraging everyone to start taking applications for carryover if you are not already doing so. Here are some considerations when deciding if or how you will do this:

Utilize the online application if available. Have the district send the link in the following newsletter.
Make sure you stress that this application is for carryover purposes only, and a new application will be needed for the 22-23 school year.
Do you typically hire staff to assist with processing applications? If so, how will you handle opening the application now?
Be sure you utilize the 21-22 Eligibility guidelines.
This is not a requirement - choose what's best for your district.
Refresh your Eligibility knowledge by viewing the training we hosted last summer. You can access materials HERE.

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REMIX

SCHOOL NUTRITION ADVOCACY

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) School Nutrition Service Dietetic Chair, Joceyln Karbo, talks about the transitional nutrition guidelines here.
AND launches video "Healthy School Meals for All. Watch it here. (An abbreviated version for social media is located here.)

COOL TOOLS

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YOUR TURN ON THE MIC

COMMENTS ON CHILD NUTRITION STANDARDS

USDA recently released transitional standards to guide Child Nutrition programs. These standards will start July 1, 2022, and will impact SSO this summer. The final rule addresses milk, whole grains, and sodium:

Milk: flavored, low-fat milk is permitted along with an unflavored milk option
Whole grains: At least 80% of weekly grains offered must meet whole grain-rich criteria; the remaining 20% must be enriched. Remember, whole grain-rich means that 50% of the product must be whole grain.
Sodium: Target 1 for NSLP is in place through SY22-23, and then a 10% decrease in sodium will go into effect for lunch only in SY23-24. Target 1 for SBP will be in effect through SY23-24.

In addition, vegetable subgroups for SBP will go back to the previous ruling in which all subgroups must be offered before a starchy vegetable can be offered.

A proposed rule has been issued for Fall 2022. The comment period is open now. Please post your comments by March 24, 2022.

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