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 - TDA has fully transitioned to the User Access Manager for all entities and has removed the FND-101 form on SquareMeals.
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 - TDA must, on an annual basis, publish a list of schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in which at least one-half of the children enrolled are certified eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
February 4, 2022 - Returning Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Contracting Entities (CEs) for SFSP program year 2022 may enter in the site applications no more than the amount listed on the Maximum Approvable ADP list. The Maximum ADP list found on www.squaremeals.org under Summer News provides the maximum approvable ADP for the site by meal type for SFSP 2022.
The “CV” naming conventions of “CVGG” and “CVHD” are discontinued in site applications.
January 12, 2022 - Returning Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Contracting Entities (CEs) for SFSP program year 2022 may enter in the site applications no more than the amount listed on the Maximum Approvable ADP list. The Maximum ADP list provides the maximum approvable ADP for the site by meal type for SFSP 2022. Click the link in the title to find the list at the bottom of the next page. The list is used to determine the maximum ADP for each site.
Updated September 30, 2021 - Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) will not be taking “And Justice For All..." (AJFA) poster orders through TX-UNPS and will not be distributing posters to contracting entities (CE). Locally printed paper copies AJFA posters may substituted as necessary.
September 30, 2021 - On May 14, 2013, TDA issued a Pre-portioned Fruit Cup Crediting supplement memo regarding crediting of 4-ounce fruit cups. That supplement is being rescinded with updated guidance and an accompanying TDA-issued memo.
July 28, 2021 - The School Nutrition Program (SNP) site applications must be submitted and approved as a prerequisite for SSO application processing. SSO sites submitted for approval will be returned for correction if there are no SNP site applications in submitted and/or approved status.
April 14, 2021 - Requests for increases in compensation must be reasonable, allocable, and necessary.
November 16, 2020 - ACTION REQUIRED: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service recently updated its Civil Rights webpage resulting in changes to the internal hyperlinks within the Nondiscrimination Statement (NDS) as well as the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form. If you have not done so already, please update the electronic versions of the NDS with the English and/or Spanish versions. These changes were required to be completed no later than January 31, 2021.
November 1, 2020 - When entering meal service times, the system will respond with an Error Message if two meals occur within the same date range, on the same day of the week and overlap in meal service times.
September 1, 2020 - Please be aware the Budget Detail cost categories will be reviewed with an increased focus. CEs should be prepared to provide further cost details if requested.