P.O. Box 202501 • Helena, MT 59620-2501
The Afterschool Snack Program provides reimbursement for snacks to children who participate in afterschool educational or enrichment programs in an organized, structured, and supervised environment.
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides children meals that meet USDA nutrition guidelines and supports both academic achievement and health during the school day. In Montana, half of the lunch meals are served to children free or at a reduced price, based on their family’s household income.
In Montana, the National School Lunch Program serves 80,000 students every day.
Public Notice: Per the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Policy Bulletin SP15-2018, CACFP12-2018, SFSP05-2018, state agencies must submit requests to waive Child Nutrition Program requirements to their Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) regional office. The Montana Office of Public Instruction School Nutrition Programs has submitted a waiver to the Mountain Plains Regional Office of the 3-year Administrative Review (AR) requirement and extend the review cycle that was proposed by the USDA Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) on February 22, 2019 through SP 12-2019 Flexibility for the Administrative Review Cycle Requirement . The goal of the waiver is to improve training and technical assistance and align reviews to support sponsors as they strive to operate high quality school meal programs.
November 6, 2020 Public Notice Waiver Request
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and the School Breakfast Program ensures it is a healthy one.
Public Notice: In accordance with Section 12(l)(1)(A)(ii) of the National School Lunch Act, the Montana Office of Public Instruction is providing public notice of its request for a breakfast review waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture. Once approved, this waiver would limit the number of Administrative Reviews requiring breakfast meal observation through June 30, 2022.
Where? Breakfast is served in the Classroom.
When? School decides when meals are served. Typically at the beginning of the school day; during the first 10-15 minutes of class while attendance is being taken or daily announcements are taking place.
Works Best For: Lower grade levels where children start the day in the same classroom with the same teacher each day.
Breakfast Reimbursement: To be reimbursed for breakfast meals served, proper meal counting procedures must be in place.
Where? Schools decide. For example: students can eat in the cafeteria, similar to traditional breakfast or take a bagged meal to be eaten in between classes or during next period.
When? After the school starts as long as it’s before lunch. For example: Students eat after first period, or during a morning nutrition break, either in the cafeteria, common areas or between classes.
Works best for: Older students. They are often not hungry early in the morning and tend to arrive at school closer to the start of the school day.
Where? Breakfast is served in the Cafeteria.
When? School decides when meals are served. Typically before the school day begins.
Works Best For: Small schools where buses and drop-offs allow most students to arrive at least 15-20 minutes prior to the morning bell.
Where? Schools decide. Examples of location: outside, in the hall, in class, or in the cafeteria. Schools can even allow students to choose where they eat.
When? Schools decide. Examples of when: first thing in the morning, between classes, or at a mid-morning break. Schools can even allow students to choose when they eat.
Works best for: Schools of all sizes and grade levels.
The Special Milk Program provides milk to children in schools and childcare institutions who do not participate in other Federal meal service programs. The program reimburses schools for the milk they serve.
Menu Planner for School Meals —From USDA
All required School Nutrition Program Sponsor and site menu documentation forms can be found and downloaded in the new Montana Agreement and Payments System (MAPS).
Log In To MAPS
Please see letter linked HERE from Heather Dawn Thompson, Director of the Office of Tribal Relations at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Stacy Dean, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services at the USDA, and Tony Dearman, Director of the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) at the U.S. Department of the Interior to BIE operated and Tribally-controlled school leaders and staff sharing a few opportunities to serve Indigenous foods in Child Nutrition Program meals, and to ensure meal programs support the community’s food sovereignty goals.
Resources
For more information, contact OPI School Nutrition Programs at 406-444-2501.
School Nutrition Programs Home