UPDATES

WEBINARS
Medium
WEBINARS

*If you are watching any KCC recording that mentions a Codeword,
  the Codeword is no longer active. 
Please be sure to log your activity in your professional development log!

May 2025- Common Administrative Review Findings

April 2025- Boost Your Kitchen's Potential: Efficiency & Menu Strategies

March 2025- Win at Breakfast

February 2025- Added Sugar Product Limits

January 2025- The Global Kitchen

December 2024- ND Educators Service Cooperative Co-op Purchasing & Buy American

November 2024 - Equipment Ideas and Grant Opportunities

October 2024-  October Hot Topics 

September 2024-  Annual Cashier & Civil Rights Training 

May 2024-  Breakfast Program Expansion 

April 2024- All About Soy 

Guest Speaker -  Linda Funk - Soyfoods Connection & North Dakota Soybean Council

Application for funds to serve a soy food on their menu

March 2024- Beans, Beans the Challenging Subgroup

Guest Speaker - Julie Garden-Robinson of NDSU Extension

February 2024- Records Retention

  • Please have your Production Record Book and Administrative Records Book readily available, as we will reference these during the webinar.   If you need any of the resources discussed, please contact our office at dpicnfd@nd.gov. 

January 2024-  Menu Writing with USDA Foods

December 2023- Identifying the Nutrition Facts Label

November 2023- Smart Snacks in Schools & Additional Food Sales

October 2023-  Sub-grant opportunities available through the Child Nutrition and Food Distribution Office.

September 2023- Farm-to-School Updates and Pre-K Meal Pattern Requirements

August 2023- Annual Cashiers Training

Emily Karel, North Dakota’s Team Nutrition Grant coordinator

  • Assist cashiers in understanding a reimbursable meal under the National School Lunch Program and National School Breakfast Program.
  • Skill-building activities for meal monitors to recognize reimbursable meals.

May 2023:  Wrap up to revisit what still needs doing and what is to come in SY24.

  • Paid Lunch Equity (PLE), Adult meal pricing, Ala Carte pricing & the Nonprogram Food Revenue Tool
  • HB1494: “Lunch Shaming” Bill – more guidance to come
  • HB1491/SB2294: Free Lunch for Working Poor Bill – Communicate with your point of sale company or build the new eligibility class into your Excel spreadsheets
  • Free/Reduced meal application has been reformatted to accommodate new eligibility class/Income Guidelines contain another table of numbers
  • End of the Year reminders: SNP renewal; Summer P-EBT; Triennial assessment of the Local Wellness Policy; Professional development hours
    • For the following resources please email dpicnfd@nd.gov
      • Documents included in the resource packet
      • Free / Reduced-Price meal applications, household letters, and notification letter templates can be found under the SNP/Free-Reduced Information tab.
      • USDA Paid Lunch Equity tool – SY23-24 to help set student lunch pricing
      • NDDPI Adult Meal price spreadsheet to set adult meal prices within requirements
      • USDA Nonprogram Food Revenue tool – required to be completed each year if the school is selling more than just second milk and adult meals
      • USDA Sample Detailed NP tracking tool
      • NDDPI quick 5-day calculator
      • Triennial assessment
      • Professional Development log

April 2023: “The Power of Power Lunch”

with Lenora Stevenson, Student Information Specialist with Edu-Tech. Power Lunch is a module of the state student information software Power School.  Lenora walks through the reports available in Power Lunch and how to download the meal data to work with it in an Excel spreadsheet.

  • For more information about the module, contact Edu-Tech at https://www.edutech.nd.gov/  Use the “Support” drop-down menu to file a ‘Help ticket.’
  • The Institute of Child Nutrition has an interactive spreadsheet called “Key Performance Indicators for School Nutrition Success” to use the data that is gained from Power Lunch. Search for this spreadsheet on www.theicn.org.

March 2023: Summer Food Service Program Updates

February 2023: USDA Proposed Rule & Submitting a Public Comment

Assistant Director Lynelle Johnson covered most of the proposed revisions to child nutrition programs during the first 19 minutes of the webinar.  At minute 19:20, Amy Nelson, Child Nutrition Specialist encourages you to make comments on the proposed changes.  She shows you where to find the comment submission form and adds helpful hints on how to comment. The Question and Answer session was not recorded.

Resources for this session are:

Links to resources mentioned during the presentation:

Link to submit a Public Comment:

 

January 2023: Procuring School Food & Supplies for SY 24

This presentation goes through the basic types of procurement for your school food service.  We also talk with Lisa Truax on the ND Coop’s Direct to Manufacturer food bid, timeline, and what is next for schools who have opted into this procurement type.  For those who have not opted into the ND school food coop, we have templates for you to start your procurement plan with.  Remember all schools must have a procurement policy and code of conduct written for their staff – samples are provided. 

December 2022– USDA Foods

November 2022 – 7 CFR 210.8(a)(1): On-site Review.

An annual review of the lunch and breakfast programs must be completed each year by February 1 at districts that have more than one school site. USDA strongly encourages all schools to review the checklist for “program accountability and integrity.”

September 2022 - Annual Cashier Training - Please See SEPTEMBER 2024 for the most current training

August 2022– Back in the Saddle Again with Free/Reduced Meal Applications

The federal school meal programs are returning to income eligibilities and meal pricing structures this year, so we want to remind you how families should fill the applications out and then how a school district will process them.

June 2022 – Hot Topics, Cool Ideas, and Nice pics from our Recap of NDSNA 2022.

  • Customer service was a key focus of this year’s state School Nutrition Association conference.  Find copies of all the resources from the convention at www.northdakotasna.com/conference  We also review the foodshow fare – new products for next year’s menus and new ways to prepare old favorites. Enjoy!

May 2022– Top Ways to Prepare for Next Year

April 2022– Meal Pricing - Student, Adult, and A la Carte with Tips and Tricks for keeping production costs inline

  •  Time 17:51 Table has an Error.  Lunch-Pricing School Total is "At least $0.82 on top of highest student paid price"

March 2022 – SCA, Procurement, USDA Updates & More

February 2022 – Planning for next year

January 2022:  Nonprogram Foods – do you know what they are and how to track them? 

November 2021:  A Focus on Food Allergies 

October 2021:  Administrative Reviews

May 2021: Getting Ready for Next Year – USDA Waivers and menu tips

April 22, 2022: USDA WAIVERS:  Webinar

April 20, 2021: Every Kid Healthy Celebrations

March 2021: Let’s talk about Grains on your menu–bring some popped popcorn with you!

February 2021: A Few of My Favorite Things – Kitchen tools to make your job easier

January 2021: CN Labels and Product Formulation Statements

December 2020: Recipes and Recipe Analysis Workbook

November 2020: Production Records

 

Resources for Kitchen Counter Conversations are available by contacting dpicndd@nd.gov

May 28, 2025

Slide Deck     -       Resources

  • New State 225% Expanded Eligibility Income Guidelines
  • HB 1132 Whole and 2% Milk in Milk Dispensers
  • Electronic Free and Reduced Application Requirements
  • End of the Year Reminders
    • Meal Pricing
    • SNP Renewal
    • Buy American Rules

April 8, 2025

Slide Deck

  • Summer Programs - SFSP and Summer EBT
  • Continuation of ND Extended Eligibilities
  • End-of-the-year reminders for kitchens
  • Upcoming Training and Events for school nutrition staff
  • Community Eligibility Provision
  • Direct Certification with Medicaid Update

January 14, 2025

Slide Deck

  • Medicaid Update
  • Free and Reduced Numbers
  • Verification Summary Reports
  • Procurement 2025-26
  • USDA Local Food for Schools and Childcare Grant Program
  • Summer EBT Update
  • LEP Resources
  • Upcoming ND Legislation 

October 1, 2024

Slide Deck

  • Medicaid Update
  • Verification Process and Verification Summary Report
  • Farm to School Update

April 9, 2024

Slide Deck

  • Summer Programs – SFSP and Summer EBT​
  • Direct Certification with Medicaid​
  • Continuation of ND Extended Eligibility Guidelines​ (State Free)
  • End-of-the-year reminders for kitchens – Inventory and Records Management​
  • Charging for second servings or extra meals & the Nonprogram Revenue Tool​
  • Upcoming Training and Events for school nutrition staff​
  • Procurement Requirements for Schools​
  • School Lunch Hero Day May 3​

January 9, 2024

Slide Deck

  • Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Guidelines and Best Practices
  • After-School Snack Guidelines
  • Verification Summaries and Free/Reduced Numbers
  • Procurement updates for 2024-25

October 10, 2023

  • Verification Process and Verification Summary Report
  • State-Free Applications and Monthly Claims
  • New Community Eligibility Guidelines (CEP)
  • New Meal Charge Policy is required (HB 1494, Anti-Lunch Shaming)
  • Farm to School updates and Census

North Dakota Department of Public Instruction Farm to School Webinar Series 2024

This Farm to School webinar series is hosted by Amanda Olson, Farm to School Specialist in the Child Nutrition and Food Distribution office, along with featured speakers from NDDPI and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. This is a 5-part series that focuses on various topics in Farm to School, including procurement, ND Local Foods Directory, Local Wellness Policy, grants, resources, and idea sharing. If you have any questions about Farm to School, please reach out to Amanda Olson, at dpicnfd@nd.gov. 

 

Session 1 Back to Basics Farm to School - 02/15/2024

Session 2 North Dakota Local Foods - 02/22/2024

Session 3 Farm to School Procurement- 02/29/2024

Session 4 Farm to School Brainstorm- 03/07/2024

Session 5 The Future of North Dakota Farm to School- 03/14/2024

NEWSLETTERS
Medium
NEWSLETTERS
USDA MEMOS
Medium
USDA MEMOS

USDA MemosTitleMain Point
SP 01-2025Fluid milk requirementsMilk requirements for each program; parents can request allowable substitution
SP 02-2025Substituting Veg at Breakfast with Q and ASubstituting fruit with vegetable 1 day/wk = any veg subgroup;
SP 03-2025Substituting Veg for Grain/ Tribal Only1/2 c veg can sub as 1 oz grain; Doesn’t count as veg subgroup/must still meet veg component and weekly subgroups for a reimbursable meal. Use of prairie turnip, breadfruit, squash, taro;  align with culturally relevant, local food preferences
SP 04-2025Fees for Electronic PaymentsRescinded
SP 05-2025Accepting Processed Product DocumentationReviews the requirements for Child Nutrition (CN) labels/Product Formulation Statements (PFS) as menu documentation
SP 06-2025NSLP Equipment GrantsUse of funds for Installation is encouraged
SP 07-2025Accept RD signatures on Medical StatementsA Registered Dietitian can sign meal modifications
SP 08-2025Non congregate meal service SFSPClarifies more operational details for serving rural noncongregate meals through SFSP
SP 09-2025Buy American10% cap Waiver, if needed
SP 10-2025Rescission of Guidance on Promoting Access to Voting through the Child Nutrition ProgramsRescinded memo from 2022
SP 11 - 2025Using Federal Funds to purchase local foodsReminder: Nonprofit School Food Service account funds have always been allowed to purchase local food
SP 12 - 2025Paid Lunch Equity Guidance for 2025-2026Exemption is zero or positive balance in Nonprofit School Food Service Account as of June 30, 2024; If balance was negative, PLE tool must be completed.
SP 13- 2025Full Year Continuing Approp & Ext Act, Effect on Child Nutrition ProgramsCrediting veg in Breakfast/no Chinese chicken/seafood & clarifying PLE exemption guidance
SP 14-2025Offer versus Serve Flexibilities for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast ProgramEncouraging schools to use - With some tips
SP 15-20252025 Enhancing CNP Meal StandardsStates can add more restrictive meal pattern requirements, such as no dyes, less ultra processed food
SP 16-2025Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program: Allocation of Funds for Fiscal Year 2026North Dakota was awarded $2,702,301 for SY 2025-2026
SP 17-2025Reimbursement for Off-Site Meal ConsumptionClarifies off site meal service for field trips or consumption for work study
WORKSHOPS
Medium
WORKSHOPS

TeamUp for Procurement Workshop 

North Dakota School Nutrition Association Annual Conference

  • Thursday, October 16 through Friday, October 17  (coincides with the ND Teacher conference)
  • To be held in Bismarck, ND, at the Bismarck Hotel & Conference Center
  • NDSNA Conference website: Conference
  • Not a member of SNA yet? No problem – SNA Membership - School Nutrition Association

New School Kitchen Manager Training- 

  • Coming June 2026 - please check back in April 2026 for registration.

Food Safety in Schools – 8-hour Initial Sanitation Course from ICN

 

FREE & REDUCED ENROLLMENT DATA
Medium
FREE & REDUCED ENROLLMENT DATA
ANNUAL REPORTS
Medium
ANNUAL REPORTS
Medium

Please reach out to dpicnfd@nd.gov for assistance with your information needs.