The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is developing resources schools can use to communicate with families about free, reduced-price, and paid school meals. Look for resources online in July 2022.
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is aware of the shortage of infant formula and reminds Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) providers that infant safety should be a key priority during this time. Click the headline to go to a page with links to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) resources for safely feeding infants during the formula shortage.
USDA has approved a no-cost extension for 2020 awardees of National School Lunch Program Equipment Grants and extended the performance period through September 30, 2023. SFAs who were awarded a 2020 NSLP Equipment Grant will be required to fully expend their funds by August 31, 2023.
May 1, 2022 - Team Nutrition has just released the updated Crediting Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This updated resource is an important supplemental companion to the Food Buying Guide for CACFP operators for crediting and meal planning.
May 1, 2022 - USDA’s Team Nutrition initiative is excited to announce the availability of its Let’s Make a Snack! Child and Adult Care Food Program Snack Menu Planner for Children 3 Through 18 Years of Age. This menu planner is an excellent training resource for CACFP operators and covers creditable and non-creditable foods at snack, interactive snack meal planning activities, sample snack menus, and 20 easy snack recipes.
May 1, 2022 - The SSO age/grade meal pattern portion sizes exemption is now available in TX-UNPS. CEs participating in SSO that are operating open and restricted open sites and have difficulty implementing the age/grade group requirements may apply for an exemption.
May 1, 2022 - Given that many nationwide waivers are set to expire in June or soon after the declared end of the Public Health Emergency, TDA is requesting from USDA the discretion to implement waivers this summer and next school year. If approved, these waivers are only expected to be used in cases where COVID-19 has affected operations; they are not meant to be used as part of standard operations throughout the Program Year.
May 1, 2022 - USDA extended the PLE exemption based on a CE’s financial position to SY 2022-2023 in policy memo SP 08-2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act 2022: Effect on Child Nutrition Programs (released April 4, 2022).
May 1, 2022 - The Universal Breakfast Program Waiver application closes on July 1.
May 1, 2022 - TDA has fully transitioned to the User Access Manager for all entities and has removed the FND-101 form on SquareMeals.
April 1, 2022 - 2022 state matching payments were processed in TX-UNPS on March 28, 2022. Public/Charter schools that participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) last year should receive the funds within 10 days.
April 1, 2022 - The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) delivered posters and information cards to every school food authority (SFA) in Texas to assist them in fulfilling a National School Lunch Program requirement to notify students and their families about the availability of summer meals. The posters must be displayed on campus and the information cards must be distributed to each student immediately upon the shipment’s arrival. Click here for more information about this USDA requirement.
April 1, 2022 - The Financial Report opened March 1st for fiscal year 2020-2021 and is now due by April 30th.
April 1, 2022 - The deadline to elect CEP for SY 2022-2023 is June 30th.
April 1, 2022 - Only pre-k students enrolled in a Head Start and Early Head Start programs qualify as eligible for free meals based on pre-k program enrollment.
April 1, 2022 - Team Nutrition is announcing the availability of new school breakfast resources for State agencies, School Food Authorities, schools, and community partners.
March 14, 2022 - TDA is offering guidance on how to modify existing Seamless Summer Option site applications to reflect normal operations. Click the headline to get more information.
March 1, 2022 - The “CV” naming conventions of “CVGG” and “CVHD” are discontinued in site applications.
March 1, 2022 - Combined base salaries for CEs operating both SFSP and CACFP cannot exceed the maximum allowable base salaries as established in TDA’s CACFP Compensation Protocol.
March 1, 2022 - TX-UNPS Application Packets, or if applicable the Intake Form, MUST BE submitted by the designated due dates to be eligible for SFSP 2022 approval.
March 1, 2022 - Whether you call it a marketing plan, an action plan, or a to-do list, planning to promote your summer meal sites and setting goals is key to maximizing success. TDA is ready to support you with your monthly to-dos to prepare for summer meals marketing. Click here for your March Marketing Checklist!
March 1, 2022 - On Monday, March 14, 2022, USDA’s Team Nutrition initiative will present a special CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays webinar on “Grains Ounce Equivalents Tools for CACFP Operators.”
March 1, 2022 - Effective July 1, 2022, low-fat flavored milk will once again be allowed for CACFP participants 6 and over (including adult participants at adult day care).
March 1, 2022 - Adult Day Care Providers using the "Offer vs. Serve" meal service, using trending documentation, do not necessarily need to have milk on hand for 100% of the meals being served. Also, the new capability has been added to TX UNPS - CEs can now upload multiple documents at a time, saving time and increasing efficiency as they respond to requests for documentation during an administrative review.
March 1, 2022 - The month of March is recognized as National Nutrition Month®, everyone is invited to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits.
March 1, 2022 - Participate in the social media challenge for National CACFP Week and learn more about the National Child Nutrition Conference
March 1, 2022 - USDA’s Team Nutrition will present a special CACFP Halftime webinar on the different tools for implementing grains ounce equivalents that is now required of CACFP operators.
March 1, 2022 - In March of each year, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) hosts the Farm Fresh Challenge for all TDA contracting entities (CE) in the Child and Adult Food Care Program (CACFP). The Challenge is a fun and engaging way for nutrition professionals to gain recognition for their efforts to bring local foods and garden-based
activities to program participants.
March 1, 2022 - The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is sending posters and information cards to every school food authority (SFA) in Texas to assist them in fulfilling a National School Lunch Program requirement to notify students and their families about the availability of these summer meals. The posters must be displayed on campus and the information cards must be distributed to each student immediately upon the shipment’s arrival.
March 1, 2022 - USDA’s Team Nutrition initiative invites Team Nutrition Schools to join them in celebrating National Nutrition Month and School Breakfast Week by offering free printed materials that are available to order while supplies last.