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Glad you are here! This site is hosted by Project PA and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Food and Nutrition (PDE, BFN). Inside this toolbox are a collection of courses to assist food service personnel in maintaining their school food service program for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).

Many of the new and updated courses on the School Nutrition Toolbox are displayed as multimedia presentations. Below are links to "quick start" movies to help you get up and running with how to use the School Nutrition Toolbox.

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Courses

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Administrative Training Category

SY 2026-27

Course image Determining Eligibility for School Meals | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Determining Eligibility for School Meals | 2026-27

2.5 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course teaches the user how to determine if a student is eligible for a free or reduced-price school meal. Topics include determination methods of eligibility (including categorical versus income eligibility), using the eligibility from a prior year, computation exercises, timelines, and recordkeeping and notification requirements.

Course image Meal Counting and Claiming for School Meal Programs | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Meal Counting and Claiming for School Meal Programs | 2026-27

1.5 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course teaches the user how to accurately count, record, and claim the number of school meals served by each category (i.e. free, reduced price, or full price). Since federal and state reimbursement is provided for each school meal served, establishing an acceptable system for meal counting is extremely important. Topics include Eligibility Documentation, Collection Procedures, Point of Service Meal Counts, Reports, Claims for Reimbursement, and Internal Controls.

Course image Verification Collection Report | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Verification Collection Report | 2026-27

1.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

By the completion of this training, participants will better understand how to submit an approvable Verification Collection Report or VCR.

Course image Verification of Eligibility for Free & Reduced Price School Meals | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Verification of Eligibility for Free & Reduced Price School Meals | 2026-27

2.5 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course teaches the user how and why to confirm eligibility for free and reduced priced school meals. Topics include how to identify error-prone applications, which sampling method to use, timelines, the process of notifying households that have been selected for Verification, exceptions from Verification requirements, and more.

SY 2025-26

Course image Determining Eligibility for School Meals | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Determining Eligibility for School Meals | 2025-26

New-Version-Available2.5 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course teaches the user how to determine if a student is eligible for a free or reduced-price school meal. Topics include determination methods of eligibility (including categorical versus income eligibility), using the eligibility from a prior year, computation exercises, timelines, and recordkeeping and notification requirements.

Course image Meal Counting and Claiming for School Meal Programs | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Meal Counting and Claiming for School Meal Programs | 2025-26

New-Version-Available1.5 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course teaches the user how to accurately count, record, and claim the number of school meals served by each category (i.e. free, reduced price, or full price). Since federal and state reimbursement is provided for each school meal served, establishing an acceptable system for meal counting is extremely important. Topics include Eligibility Documentation, Collection Procedures, Point of Service Meal Counts, Reports, Claims for Reimbursement, and Internal Controls.

Course image Verification of Eligibility for Free & Reduced Price School Meals | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Verification of Eligibility for Free & Reduced Price School Meals | 2025-26

2.5 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course teaches the user how and why to confirm eligibility for free and reduced priced school meals. Topics include how to identify error-prone applications, which sampling method to use, timelines, the process of notifying households that have been selected for Verification, exceptions from Verification requirements, and more.

Annual Training Category

SY 2026-27

Course image Civil Rights in the SNP | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Civil Rights in the SNP | 2026-27

1.0 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

This course fulfills mandatory annual training requirements for members of school food service in the topic of Civil Rights. The user will learn some of the history of Civil Rights, learn about protected classes, learn the proper way to manage complaints of Civil Rights discrimination, and learn how to make accommodations for persons with disabilities.

Course image School Nutrition Program (SNP) Annual Training | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
School Nutrition Program (SNP) Annual Training | 2026-27

2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course is designed for employees of sponsors of the School Nutrition Program. Users will learn about Accessing/Using CN PEARS, Determining Eligibility, Verification, Meal Counting and Claiming, Civil Rights, Certificate of Compliance for RCCIs, Food Safety Recalls, Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods/Local Wellness Policy, Paid Lunch Equity (PLE), Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, and Procurement in Child Nutrition Programs.

Course image Seamless Summer Option (SSO) | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Seamless Summer Option (SSO) | 2026-27

1.0 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

The Seamless Summer Option allows school food authorities or SFAs to provide free summer meals in low-income areas during the traditional summer vacation periods and, for year-round schools, during school vacation periods longer than 15 school days.  

Course image Special Milk Program | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Special Milk Program | 2026-27

2.5 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

This module reviews the regulations that govern the Special Milk Program. You will explore how to properly procure a milk vendor, determine the best pricing option for your program, develop a food safety plan, and create a record keeping process for your daily, financial, and administrative records.

SY 2025-26

Course image Civil Rights in the SNP | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Civil Rights in the SNP | 2025-26

New-Version-Available1.0 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

This course fulfills mandatory annual training requirements for members of school food service in the topic of Civil Rights. The user will learn some of the history of Civil Rights, learn about protected classes, learn the proper way to manage complaints of Civil Rights discrimination, and learn how to make accommodations for persons with disabilities.

Course image School Nutrition Program (SNP) Annual Training | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
School Nutrition Program (SNP) Annual Training | 2025-26

New-Version-Available2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course is designed for employees of sponsors of the School Nutrition Program. Users will learn about Accessing/Using CN PEARS, Determining Eligibility, Verification, Meal Counting and Claiming, Civil Rights, Certificate of Compliance for RCCIs, Food Safety Recalls, Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods/Local Wellness Policy, Paid Lunch Equity (PLE), Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, and Procurement in Child Nutrition Programs.

Course image Seamless Summer Option (SSO) | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Seamless Summer Option (SSO) | 2025-26

New-Version-Available1.0 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

The Seamless Summer Option allows school food authorities or SFAs to provide free summer meals in low-income areas during the traditional summer vacation periods and, for year-round schools, during school vacation periods longer than 15 school days.  

Course image Special Milk Program | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Special Milk Program | 2025-26

New-Version-Available2.5 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

This module reviews the regulations that govern the Special Milk Program. You will explore how to properly procure a milk vendor, determine the best pricing option for your program, develop a food safety plan, and create a record keeping process for your daily, financial, and administrative records.

Additional Training Category

SY 2026-27

Course image Accommodating Students with Disabilities in School Meals | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Accommodating Students with Disabilities in School Meals | 2026-27

2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

While this module focuses primarily on reasonable modifications in the NSLP and SBP, the information also applies to the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), the Special Milk Program (SMP), the afterschool snack component of the NSLP, and the Seamless Summer Option (SSO). Although the school food service is specifically responsible for providing the necessary meal modifications for children participating in the School Meal Programs, the overall responsibility for accommodating children with disabilities rests with the local education agency (LEA).

Course image Breakfast: The Most Important Lesson of the Day | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Breakfast: The Most Important Lesson of the Day | 2026-27

2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course will educate and inspire the user to implement or expand a School Breakfast Program. Topics include the benefits of school breakfast, alternative delivery systems (e.g. Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab 'n Go Breakfast), promoting school breakfast, and overcoming school breakfast challenges.

Course image Crediting Foods in School Meals | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Crediting Foods in School Meals | 2026-27

2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course will teach users how to properly credit foods used in menus to ensure that meals meet the reimbursable meal pattern requirements. Topics include CN labels, whole grain-rich requirements, allowable forms of foods, and minimum serving sizes.

Course image Farm to School: Keeping it Safe | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Farm to School: Keeping it Safe | 2026-27

2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit (Two certificates each worth 1.0 hours.)

This course teaches the user how to minimize the risks in Farm to School programs. This includes not just sourcing food from local producers, but also school gardens, nutrition and agriculture classroom lessons, field trips to local farms, and taste testing of local products. Most of the information in this lesson is based on recommendations from the USDA's Produce Safety University.

Course image Forecasting for School Meal Programs | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Forecasting for School Meal Programs | 2026-27

1.0 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

This course teaches the user how to forecast in order to efficiently procure items for the school meal program. The importance of cycle menus, standardized recipes, production records, and recording current inventory is stressed and exercises are included which help the user accurately predict what goods are needed in a given program.

Course image Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program | 2026-27

2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course teaches users about Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program in Pennsylvania. Topics include the selection criteria for acceptance into the program, requirements for compliance with the program, and strategies for success. It is intended for use by Pennsylvania schools that have been awarded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grants, as well as schools which may be interested in applying for the program.

Course image Marketing School Meals | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Marketing School Meals | 2026-27

1.0 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

Today's School Nutrition Program faces a lot of competition. This course will teach the user how to succeed in the face of this competition by identifying and overcoming obstacles with effective marketing strategies.

Course image National School Lunch Afterschool Snack Program | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
National School Lunch Afterschool Snack Program | 2026-27

1.0 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

This course teaches users the requirements of The National School Lunch Afterschool Snack Program (ASP). This is an extension of The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) which provides reimbursement for nutritious snacks served to students in afterschool programs that include enrichment and learning activities. Topics include eligibility, meal pattern, and monitoring/recordkeeping.

Course image Nonprogram Foods | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Nonprogram Foods | 2026-27

1.0 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

Nonprogram foods are foods and beverages purchased with funds from the Nonprofit School Food Service Account (NSFSA), then sold in participating schools other than reimbursable meals.

Course image Offer Versus Serve - Food Service Personnel | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Offer Versus Serve - Food Service Personnel | 2026-27

2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

OVS is an effective means of combating food waste. This course teaches the user the requirements of OVS and how to ensure that students choose the components needed to constitute a reimbursable school meal, at breakfast or lunch, at all age levels.

Course image Overview of School Nutrition Programs | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Overview of School Nutrition Programs | 2026-27

1.0 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

This course gives the user an overview of School Nutrition Programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Afterschool Snack Program (ASP), Special Milk Program (SMP), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

Course image Procurement in School Nutrition Programs | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Procurement in School Nutrition Programs | 2026-27

1.5 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course will teach the user about Procurement in the School Nutrition Program in order to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations. Topics include the necessity of full and open competition, the need for a separate fund for the SNP, types of procurement (e.g. micro-purchase, informal bid, formal bid), local procurement, and much more.

Course image Production Records, Standardized Recipes and Usage Recipes | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Production Records, Standardized Recipes and Usage Recipes | 2026-27

2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

Production Records are the bedrock upon which a sound school meal program is based. They are required for effective forecasting as well as to ensure your program receives reimbursement for meals served. This course teaches the benefits and requirements of Production Records, using Standardized Recipes and Usage Recipes and includes hands-on activities to help the user become familiar with how to keep accurate Production Records.

Course image School Breakfast Meal Pattern and Nutrition Standards | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
School Breakfast Meal Pattern and Nutrition Standards | 2026-27

1.5 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course will teach the user the requirements for a reimbursable school breakfast. Topics include general meal pattern requirements, the limits on offering juice, the options for offering meat and meat alternates, how components credit in smoothies at breakfast, grain and milk requirements, and more. In addition to this, the user will learn the Offer Versus Serve (OVS) and Nutrition Standard requirements of school breakfast.

Course image Smart Snacks in Schools | 2026-27
SY 2026-27
Smart Snacks in Schools | 2026-27

2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course explains the nutrition standards imposed upon all foods and beverages sold outside of the federal child nutrition programs in schools. The user will learn the situations under which Smart Snacks regulations do and do not apply, as well as regulations for school fundraisers.

SY 2025-26

Course image Breakfast: The Most Important Lesson of the Day | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Breakfast: The Most Important Lesson of the Day | 2025-26

New-Version-Available2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course will educate and inspire the user to implement or expand a School Breakfast Program. Topics include the benefits of school breakfast, alternative delivery systems (e.g. Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab 'n Go Breakfast), promoting school breakfast, and overcoming school breakfast challenges.

Course image Crediting Foods in School Meals | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Crediting Foods in School Meals | 2025-26

New-Version-Available2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course will teach users how to properly credit foods used in menus to ensure that meals meet the reimbursable meal pattern requirements. Topics include CN labels, whole grain-rich requirements, allowable forms of foods, and minimum serving sizes.

Course image Farm to School: Keeping it Safe | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Farm to School: Keeping it Safe | 2025-26

New-Version-Available2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit (Two certificates each worth 1.0 hours.)

This course teaches the user how to minimize the risks in Farm to School programs. This includes not just sourcing food from local producers, but also school gardens, nutrition and agriculture classroom lessons, field trips to local farms, and taste testing of local products. Most of the information in this lesson is based on recommendations from the USDA's Produce Safety University.

Course image Forecasting for School Meal Programs | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Forecasting for School Meal Programs | 2025-26

New-Version-Available1.0 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

This course teaches the user how to forecast in order to efficiently procure items for the school meal program. The importance of cycle menus, standardized recipes, production records, and recording current inventory is stressed and exercises are included which help the user accurately predict what goods are needed in a given program.

Course image Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program | 2025-26

New-Version-Available2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course teaches users about Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program in Pennsylvania. Topics include the selection criteria for acceptance into the program, requirements for compliance with the program, and strategies for success. It is intended for use by Pennsylvania schools that have been awarded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grants, as well as schools which may be interested in applying for the program.

Course image Marketing School Meals | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Marketing School Meals | 2025-26

New-Version-Available1.0 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

Today's School Nutrition Program faces a lot of competition. This course will teach the user how to succeed in the face of this competition by identifying and overcoming obstacles with effective marketing strategies.

Course image National School Lunch Afterschool Snack Program | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
National School Lunch Afterschool Snack Program | 2025-26

New-Version-Available1.0 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

This course teaches users the requirements of The National School Lunch Afterschool Snack Program (ASP). This is an extension of The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) which provides reimbursement for nutritious snacks served to students in afterschool programs that include enrichment and learning activities. Topics include eligibility, meal pattern, and monitoring/recordkeeping.

Course image Nonprofit School Food Service Account | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Nonprofit School Food Service Account | 2025-26

1.0 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

Topics covered:

  • Requirements for a Nonprofit School Food Service Account (NSFSA)
  • Allowable/Unallowable Costs
  • Direct and Indirect Costs
  • Indirect Cost Rates
Course image Nonprogram Foods | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Nonprogram Foods | 2025-26

New-Version-Available1.0 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

Nonprogram foods are foods and beverages purchased with funds from the Nonprofit School Food Service Account (NSFSA), then sold in participating schools other than reimbursable meals.

Course image Offer Versus Serve - Food Service Personnel | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Offer Versus Serve - Food Service Personnel | 2025-26

New-Version-Available2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

OVS is an effective means of combating food waste. This course teaches the user the requirements of OVS and how to ensure that students choose the components needed to constitute a reimbursable school meal, at breakfast or lunch, at all age levels.

Course image Overview of School Nutrition Programs | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Overview of School Nutrition Programs | 2025-26

New-Version-Available1.0 Hour of Continuing Education Credit

This course gives the user an overview of School Nutrition Programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Afterschool Snack Program (ASP), Special Milk Program (SMP), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

Course image Procurement in School Nutrition Programs | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Procurement in School Nutrition Programs | 2025-26

New-Version-Available1.5 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course will teach the user about Procurement in the School Nutrition Program in order to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations. Topics include the necessity of full and open competition, the need for a separate fund for the SNP, types of procurement (e.g. micro-purchase, informal bid, formal bid), local procurement, and much more.

Course image Production Records, Standardized Recipes and Usage Recipes | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Production Records, Standardized Recipes and Usage Recipes | 2025-26

New-Version-Available

Production Records are the bedrock upon which a sound school meal program is based. They are required for effective forecasting as well as to ensure your program receives reimbursement for meals served. This course teaches the benefits and requirements of Production Records, using Standardized Recipes and Usage Recipes and includes hands-on activities to help the user become familiar with how to keep accurate Production Records.

Course image School Breakfast Meal Pattern and Nutrition Standards | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
School Breakfast Meal Pattern and Nutrition Standards | 2025-26

New-Version-Available1.5 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course will teach the user the requirements for a reimbursable school breakfast. Topics include general meal pattern requirements, the limits on offering juice, the options for offering meat and meat alternates, how components credit in smoothies at breakfast, grain and milk requirements, and more. In addition to this, the user will learn the Offer Versus Serve (OVS) and Nutrition Standard requirements of school breakfast.

Course image School Lunch Meal Pattern and Nutrition Standards | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
School Lunch Meal Pattern and Nutrition Standards | 2025-26

1.5 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course teaches the user about the Meal Pattern in the National School Lunch Program. The user will learn about component requirements of a reimbursable school lunch, the age/grade groups for lunch, allowable and unallowable items within each group, and requirements for minimum weekly grains, whole-grain rich items, meat and meat alternates, milk, and fruit and vegetables. In addition to this, Offer Versus Serve (OVS) and Nutrition Standards are covered.

Course image School Nutrition Program (SNP) Administrative Review Process | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
School Nutrition Program (SNP) Administrative Review Process | 2025-26

3.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course will teach the user the purpose of the Administrative Review as well as what to expect during an Off-site Assessment and On-site Review. The user will learn the frequency of reviews, the areas addressed, and deadlines for submission of documentation and information.

Course image Serving Students with Disabilities in School Meals | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Serving Students with Disabilities in School Meals | 2025-26

New-Version-Available2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

While this module focuses primarily on reasonable modifications in the NSLP and SBP, the information also applies to the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), the Special Milk Program (SMP), the afterschool snack component of the NSLP, and the Seamless Summer Option (SSO). Although the school food service is specifically responsible for providing the necessary meal modifications for children participating in the School Meal Programs, the overall responsibility for accommodating children with disabilities rests with the local education agency (LEA).

Course image Smart Snacks in Schools | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Smart Snacks in Schools | 2025-26

New-Version-Available2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

This course explains the nutrition standards imposed upon all foods and beverages sold outside of the federal child nutrition programs in schools. The user will learn the situations under which Smart Snacks regulations do and do not apply, as well as regulations for school fundraisers.

Course image USDA Recipe Standardization Process | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
USDA Recipe Standardization Process | 2025-26

2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

Topics covered:

  • Definition, Benefits, and Process
  • Soliciting Recipes from the School Community
  • Recipe Verification Phase
  • Product Evaluation Phase
  • Quantity Adjustment Phase
  • School Meal Service Pilot

Child Nutrition Financial Report (CNFR)

SY 2025-26

Course image Child Nutrition Financial Report (CNFR) | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Child Nutrition Financial Report (CNFR) | 2025-26

1.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

Pennsylvania Student Eligibility System (PA-SES)

SY 2025-26

Course image DC-Only | PA-SES Direct Certification (DC) Module | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
DC-Only | PA-SES Direct Certification (DC) Module | 2025-26

2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit

Course image Full-User | PA-SES Direct Certification (DC) Module | 2025-26
SY 2025-26
Full-User | PA-SES Direct Certification (DC) Module | 2025-26

2.0 Hours of Continuing Education Credit


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