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.