Child Nutrition Programs ISBE Update

Illinois State Board of EducationNutrition and Wellness Programs Division

November 2017

USDA Equipment Grants – Coming Soon

• $1,365,306 will be awarded to SFAs in FY18 for the replacement, renovation, or purchase of kitchen equipment

• Must participate in NSLP – Higher priority must be given to high-need schools (i.e.,

schools in underserved areas, schools with limited access to other resources, and age of food service equipment) where 50 percent or more of the enrolled students are eligible for free or reduced price meals.

• ISBE plans to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) in December with proposals being due in February with awardees having until June 2019 to expend funds.

Back to School Conference – July/August 2018

Planned Again! Central Illinois Location July/August 2018

Verification Process and Summary Report

• Verification Process MUST be completed annually by November 15

• Verification Summary Report is completed annually (usually to ISBE by Dec 15), but deadline extended until January 10, 2018 (due to delays by ISBE – This SY ONLY)

• Once VSR is available, we will notify ALL districts via Email Blast!

Breakfast After the Bell

• Effective SY2017-2018

• Schools impacted that have 70% or greater free and reduced eligible

• Technical Assistance is available from a variety of resources!

• Program Success is VERY Important!

Illinois to Celebrate Bicentennial

• School Meal Menu to Celebrate Illinois’ Bicentennial is planned.

• Watch the Outlook for opportunities to share BEST Illinois products and recipes!

What is Produce Safety University (PSU)?

PSU is a one-week training course designed to help school foodservice staff identify and manage food safety risks associated with fresh produce. PSU addresses produce purchased from traditional suppliers, direct from farmers, and through the DoD Fresh program.

Menu Flexibilities for SY17-18Milk and Whole Grain-Rich

ISBE is offering exemptions from the Whole Grain-Rich (WGR) requirements and flavored milk requirements in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) for School Year 2017-2018. Detailed information is available on our webpage.

• WGR ProductsExemption requests for specific WGR products can be

requested if the School Food Authority (SFA) can

demonstrate with documentation hardship(s) in:

Procurement of the specific whole grain-rich

product or

Preparation of the specific whole grain-rich

product or

Student acceptability of the specific whole grain-

rich product

• MilkAllows sites to provide low-fat (1-percent milk fat), flavored milk in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and as an a la carte beverage available for sale on campus during the school day.

• In order to qualify for this exemption, the School Food Authority (SFA) must demonstrate hardship by documenting either:

A reduction in student milk consumption OR

An increase in school milk waste

Flexibilities for SY17-18 - Sodium

• Sodium Schools must continue to

meet Sodium Target 1

No exemption requests are required for the Sodium flexibility – it is a blanket allowance to continue to meet the Target 1 for sodium.

Local Wellness Policy Final Rule

• Effective August 29, 2016

• Timeline:

– Technical assistance provided by State Agency during School Year 2016-17 reviews

– Full compliance expected June 30, 2017

• Assessed during reviews conducted in School Year 2017-18.

• Compliance is at LEA level, not SFA

Unpaid Meal Charges

• SP 46-2016: Unpaid Meal Charges: Local Meal Charge Policies (July 8, 2016)

– Requires all SFA’s to establish a meal charge policy that is clearly communicated to school administrators and staff, food service professionals, families and students

– By July 1, 2017, all SFA’s operating NSLP and/or SBP must have a written and clearly communicated policy

Policy Considerations

• Developed and implemented at the district level (may vary for elementary, middle, high school)

• Minimize identification of children with insufficient funds to pay for meals

• Meal charge limits and alternate meals are at the discretion of the district

Policy Communications

• Policy provided in writing to all households at the start of the school year as well as to transfer students

• Included in student handbooks and/or online portals to access student accounts

• Encouraged to use multiple methods to reach households

• Also provided to all school or district level staff responsible for enforcement (food service professionals, administrators, guidance counselors, etc.)

Administrative/Resource Management/Procurement Reviews

• Reviews, Reviews, Reviews!

• Lots of new areas that will be reviewed, with a focus on technical assistance in many program areas.

Outlook newsletter

• The Authorized Representative & Contact Person on your application in WINS will automatically receive the Outlook monthly to their email.

• Others can get on the listserv by emailing cnp@isbe.net to request added.

• We put out a monthly electronic newsletter called the Outlook, which provides updates on program administration. Some examples include:

Upcoming Due Dates New USDA Regulations, rules, memos New tools or resources Success Stories Grant Opportunities Trainings

ISBE & University of Illinois Extension Partnership

• https://extension.illinois.edu/abcsofschoolnutrition/

Electronic Direct Certification and Certification UPDATE

• Case ID Numbers are Back! – Likely on Dec 2017 OR Jan 2018 Monthly Reports

– Case ID Numbers are now 9 digits in length for SNAP/TANF/Income Eligible Medicaid

• HEA application guidance on acceptable case ID numbers will be forthcoming.– All 9 digit case ID numbers will be acceptable at

face value on HEA. All LEAs are encouraged to attempt to Directly Certify all case id numbers submitted on an HEA.

Direct Certification with Income-Eligible Medicaid

• Demonstration Project began in SY2012-2013 in selected schools

• Statewide in SY2014-2015

• Project suspended as of July 1, 2015 due to Income Eligible Medicaid data integrity issues

• Data matching began in November 2016

Menu boards

A limited number of Menu Boards are still available. Check Outlook for link to complete online survey/request form!

School Nutrition & Wellness Champions

• All school nutrition professionals in Illinois eligible

• Anyone can nominate someone

• ISBE committee reviewed nominees from across the state

• 2018 nomination forms will be available in January 2018.

Contact Us Nutrition and Wellness Programs DivisionIllinois State Board of Education

100 North First Street, W-270

Springfield, IL 62777-0001

Telephone: 800/545-7892 in Illinois only217/782-2491

Fax: 217/524-6124

Email: cnp@isbe.net

Website: www.isbe.net/nutrition