FEDERAL CHILD NUTRITION
PROGRAMS
Rosemary O’Connell
Kevin Maskornick
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
Child Nutrition Division
October 22, 2012
Objectives
 Provide an overview of the Federal Child
Nutrition Programs, their administration and
structure
 Clarify what is expected of those operating the
Child Nutrition Programs
 Answer questions about the operation of the
Child Nutrition Programs
 Provide a tutorial on how to access online
information resources
www.fns.usda.gov/cnd
Organizational Chart
Secretary of Agriculture
Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and
Consumer Services
Food and Nutrition Service
Regional
Offices
OPS
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
CGA
ROS
SNAP
Special Nutrition
(CND, FDD, WIC)
MTF
FNS Regional Offices
Mountain Plains
Region
Northeast
Region
Midwest
Region
Western
Region
Mid Atlantic
Region
Southeast
Region
Southwest
Region
5
Administrative Flow
FNS Headquarters
Alexandria, VA
FNS Regions - 7
State Agencies - 56
School Food Authorities – nearly 21,000
Schools – more than 100,000
Respective Duties
Headquarters
Regional offices
 Legislation
 Implement regulations
 Write regulations
 Technical assistance
 Develop national policy
 Program oversight
 Management evaluations
Flow of Reimbursement
Congress
appropriates funds
FNS prepares
budget for
programs
FNS Regions
estimate State $
needs
States receive SFA
claims and draw
down on the LOC
Regions give states
Letter of Credit 3month supply to
draw down
States receive Grant
Award Document
Estimate of Annual
$
Child Nutrition Programs
 National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
 Afterschool Snack Service
 Seamless Summer Option
 School Breakfast Program (SBP)
 Special Milk Program for Children (SMP)
 Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
 At-Risk Afterschool Meals
 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)
Child Nutrition Programs FY11
ADP
NSLP
SBP
SFSP
CACFP
31.8 million
12.1 million
2.3 million
3.4 million
About 100,000 schools in NSLP
About 89,000 schools in SBP
Federal Appropriations for NSLP/SBP in FY
2012 are over $13.4 billion
Legislative Authority
The National School Lunch Act
 National School Lunch Program
 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
 Child and Adult Care Food Program
 Summer Food Service Program
The Child Nutrition Act of 1966
 School Breakfast Program
 Special Milk Program
REGULATORY PROCESS
Regulatory Process
 Proposed Rule
 published for comments, not to be implemented
 Evaluate comments
 read/consider comments
 Final or Interim Regulation
 implemented; comments taken on Interim
Regulation
 Notices
 announce routine updates
Regulatory Process
 In order for the regulatory process to work, we
need your help!
 Your comments help us write our rules
 www.regulations.gov
7 CFR 210
THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH
PROGRAM REGULATIONS
SFA
vs. LEA
School Food Authority
Local Educational agency
 SFA – School Food
 LEA – Local Educational
Authority
 Governing body
responsible for the
administration of one or
more schools;
 Has legal authority to
operate a Program
Agency
 Governing body
responsible for certifying
and verifying F/RP school
meal eligibility
Non-profit Food Service
 Observe limitations on:
 food service revenues
sec. 210.14(a)
 Competitive foods
210.11(b)
 Maintain financial
management system
and account for all
revenue and
expenditures 210.14
 Money must be used
for the meal program
 Competitive food
money must go to food
service or school
approved group
Procurement
 Free and open competition in procurement
required and follow Federal, State and local bidding
and contracting requirements
 Geographic preference allowed 210.21
 Encourages purchases from local farmers
 Buy American requirement
 Domestic commodity or
 Produced in the US
 51 % of the final processed product must consist of
agricultural commodities that were grown domestically.
Price Lunch as a Unit
 A single reimbursable meal is priced as a unit
 charges for reimbursable meals cannot be assessed
based on individual components
Point of Service Counts
 Count the number of
reimbursable meals
served by type at the
point of service or
through another
system approved by
the State
 Count meals where you
can accurately
determine:
 if the meal meets
component
requirements
 the eligibility status of
the child
Meal Service
 The lunch period is
between 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m.
 Some exceptions apply
 Schools must display
signage explaining the
components that
constitute a
reimbursable meal
Overt Identification
 Make no discrimination
against any child
because of his or her
eligibility for F/RP
meals in accordance
with the approved
policy statement
 SFA will not overtly
identify students based
upon their eligibility
status
 FNS recently circulated
memo SP-45-2012
clarifying the
prohibition on overt
identification
Sanitation and Health
 Obtain two food safety
inspections per year
 Develop food safety
program/HACCP
 Inspections satisfy the
requirements for all child
nutrition programs
operating in the same
service area
Retain Your Records
 Upon request, make all
accounts and records
pertaining to school
food service available
to the State and FNS
 Keep records for 3 (+)
years
 Records must be
available for audit or
review at a reasonable
time and place
How You Get Your $$$
 Claim reimbursement
at assigned rates. The
SFA official signing the
claim is responsible for
review and analysis for
accuracy. Failure may
result in withholding,
suspension or
termination
 SFA official takes
responsibility for
accurate claims
 Edit checks verify
accuracy of claims
How You Get Your $$$ Cot’d
 File claims within 60 days
 SA can shorten this period
 Consolidated claims are OK
 each school’s data is retained
 Claim is for 1 month
 combine months with 10 or less operating days (but
do not cross fiscal years)
 Report number of F/RP children and total
enrollment on last operating day of Oct
Equity in School Lunch Pricing
Seeks to ensure that sufficient funds are
provided to the food service account for
paid lunches
Must be calculated annually
Information and PLE Tool updated in
Spring for the upcoming School Year ool
Non-program Revenue Tool
National Average Payment Factors
 The average per lunch rates for
reimbursement of free, reduced price
and paid meals
 Adjusted annually – the rates of
reimbursement change every year
 New rates become effective every July 1
 Additional 6 cents reimbursement
available this SY
Coordinated Review Effort - CRE
 Now defunct---new
administrative review
process under
 State agency conducts
reviews with occasional
help from FNS staff
development
 Also covers general
areas:
 civil rights
 reporting/recordkeeping
 food safety...
 3-year review cycle
begins SY2013-14
NSLP MEAL REQUIREMENTS
Updated Meal Requirements
 The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 mandated
USDA to update school meals
 Changes are effective:
 July 1, 2012 (SY 2012/13) for lunches
 July 1, 2013 (SY 2013/14) for breakfasts
New Dietary Specifications
 Calorie minimums and maximums
 More fruits and vegetables
 Limit on sodium (gradual reduction over time)
 Limit on trans fat (zero grams per serving)
 Limit on saturated fat (less than 10% of
calories)
 Weekly averages
 Nutrient analysis of meals conducted by State
agency during administrative review
New Meal Pattern
 Food-based meal pattern
 Fruits and vegetables are separate components
 Vegetable subgroups must be offered over the week
 Dark Green
 Red/Orange
 Beans/Peas (legumes)
 Starchy
 “Other”
 Fruits must be offered at breakfast and lunch
 Skim milk (unflavored/flavored) and low fat milk (unflavored)
New Meal Pattern
 Whole grain-rich requirement
 In SY 12/13, at least ½ of grains offered during the
week must be whole grain-rich
 For breakfasts: SY 13/14
 In SY 14-15, all grains offered must be whole grain-rich
 Lunches and breakfasts
 “Whole grain-rich” = at least 50% whole grains
and the remaining grains in the product must be
enriched
Competitive Foods
 Foods sold in competition with lunches during
lunch periods (e.g., a la carte)
 State agencies and SFAs must have rules to
control the sale of competitive foods
 Income from the sale of such foods must benefit
nonprofit school food service
 Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value are
prohibited in food service area during lunch
 See list in Appendix B of 7 CFR 210 (soda, gum,
certain candies, candy coated popcorn...)
A School Store
36
Local Wellness Policy
 Policy developed at the local level to enhance
the school nutrition environment
 Nutrition education and physical activity
 Nutrition guidelines for foods available on campus
during school day
 Reimbursable school meal guidelines
 A plan for measuring implementation
 Community involvement
Children with Disabilities
 SFAs must accommodate a child whose
disability prevents him/her from consuming the
school meal as prepared
 Request a statement from a licensed
physician’s that identifies:




Child’s disability
Why disability restricts diet
Major life activity affected
Foods to be omitted & offered
Children with Special Dietary Needs
 Food intolerances or allergies are not
considered, by law, a disability
 SFA has discretion to make meal
accommodations on a case-by-case basis
 A medical statement from a recognized
medical authority (as identified by the State) is
required
 For milk substitution only, a parent statement
is allowed
Offer versus Serve
 Intended to reduce food waste
 Mandatory for senior high schools in NSLP
 Optional for SBP and for NSLP at lower grades
 Students may decline 2 food components at
lunch, but must select a fruit or a vegetable
A Brief Overview
FREE AND REDUCED PRICE
MEALS
Eligibility
 Household Application
 Income eligibility
 Categorical eligibility
 Direct certification
Categorical Eligibility
 Receipt of SNAP, TANF or FDPIR benefits
 Eligibility extended to all children in household
 “Other Source” status such as foster child or
enrolled in Head Start
 Individual eligibility
 May be determined by application or direct
certification
A Comparison of Applications
Income application
Categorical application
 Last four digits of the SSN
 Child’s name





of signing adult
Current income
Frequency of income
Source of the income
Household members,
including child
Signature of adult
household member
 Case number or indication
of status
 Signature of adult
household member
Income Eligibility Guidelines
(IEGs)
 Used to determine eligibility for free or reduced
price meals based on the family’s income
 FNS makes these calculations based upon the
Federal poverty guidelines as determined by
the Department of Health and Human Services
IEGs Calculations
 Children from families whose income equals
130 percent of poverty or less are eligible for
free meals
 Children from families whose income equals
between 131 and 185 percent of poverty are
eligible for reduced price meals
SY 2012-2013
Household
Size
Reduced Price Meals
(185 Percent)
Free Meals
(130 Percent)
Annual
Month
Week
Annual
Month
Week
1
20,665
1,723
398
14,521
1,211
280
2
27,991
2,333
539
19,669
1,640
379
3
35,317
2,944
680
24,817
2,069
478
4
42,643
3,554
821
29,965
2,498
577
5
49,969
4,165
961
35,113
2,927
676
6
57,295
4,775
1,102
40,261
3,356
775
7
64,621
5,386
1,243
45,409
3,785
874
8
71,947
5,996
1,384
50,557
4,214
973
For Each
Additional
Person, Add
+7,326
+5611
+141
+5,148
+429
+99
Income and Household
 Income
 before any deductions (such as taxes, Social Security
taxes, insurance premiums, charitable contributions
and bonds)
 Household
 a group of related or non-related people living under
one roof as one economic unit
Migrant, Runaway or Homeless
Children
 Migrant children in the Migrant Education
Program
 Runaways in the programs under RHYA
 Homeless children under the McKinney-Vento
Act
Foster Children/Head Start
 Foster Children
 Any foster child whose care and placement is the
responsibility of the State
 Any foster child who is placed by a court with a caretaker
household
 Head Start
 All children enrolled in Head Start are categorically
eligible
Mandatory Direct Certification
for SNAP Households
 Requires the LEA to directly certify as eligible for
free meals any child who is a member of a
household receiving SNAP benefits
 State agency must enter into an agreement with
their SNAP agency establishing direct
certification procedures
Discretionary Direct
Certification
 An LEA may certify a child for free meals
without further application by directly
communicating with officials to determine if
the child is :
 a TANF family member
 homeless
 served by certain runaway or homeless youth
programs
 a migrant
 a Head Start enrollee
Documentation
for Direct Certification
 SNAP or TANF officials relay documentation to
schools that a child is part of a household
certified to get those benefits
 Documentation may include:
 Name of child
 A certifying statement
 Identifiers (e.g., SSN and DOB)
 Signature of SNAP/TANF official
 Date
Direct Certification Improvement
Plans
 SY 2012-2013 – 90%; SY 2013-14 – 95%
 CIPs should include:
• The specific measures the State will use to identify more
children who are eligible for direct certification based on
SNAP data
• A multiyear timeline for the State to implement these
measures
• Goals for the State to improve direct certification results.
Should also address progress in complying with requirements to phase out
SNAP “letter method” and conduct multiple direct certification matches
with SNAP
SLI
DE
54
Confidentiality
 Individual children’s eligibility status and
Information protected by NSLA
 Law allows limited disclosures
 Any direct certification system or data
exchange must ensure limited disclosure within
statutory requirements
Recipient of Information
What May be Disclosed
Programs under the National School Lunch Act or Child
All eligibility information
Nutrition Act
Federal/State or local means tested nutrition programs with Eligibility status only
eligibility standards comparable to the NSLP
Federal education programs
Eligibility status only
State education programs administered by a State agency or Eligibility status only
local education agency
Local education programs
NO eligibility information, unless
parental consent is obtained
Requirements
Prior notice and consent
not required
Prior notice and consent
not required
Prior notice and consent
not required
Prior notice and consent
not required
Parental consent
Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Programs All eligibility information unless
(SCHIP), administered by a State or local agency authorized parents elect not to have information
under titles XIX or XXI of the Social Security Act to identify disclosed
and enroll eligible children
Must give prior notice to
parents and opportunity for
parents to decline to have
their information disclosed
State health programs other than Medicaid/SCHIP,
administered by a State agency or local education agency
Federal health programs other than Medicaid/SCHIP
Eligibility status only
Prior consent not required
NO eligibility information, unless
parental consent is obtained
NO eligibility information, unless
parental consent is obtained
Parental consent
Local health program
Comptroller General of the United States for purposes of
All eligibility information
audit and examination
Federal, State, or local law enforcement officials
All eligibility information
investigating alleged violations of any of the programs under
the NSLA and CNA or investigating violations of any of the
programs that are authorized to have access to names and
eligibility status
Parental consent
Prior notice and consent
not required
Prior notice and consent
not required
Eligibility Manual
 Available on our website
 Incorporates all memos and changes regarding
F/RP policies
 Updated annually
THE VERIFICATION PROCESS
Verification
 Local responsibility, though the State may
conduct the process
 Use number of applications approved as of
October 1 as pool
 LEAs must verify a minimum number of
applications by November 15 every year
Standard Sample Size
 3% or 3000, whichever is less, of “error prone”
applications
 Error prone is income within $100 per month ($1200
per year) of the threshold established through the
IEG.
Verification Process
 Confirmation Review
 Made by someone other than person who made
initial determination to check for errors if no
electronic data system used in initial determination
 Replacing Applications
 Up to 5% on case-by-case basis
 Notifying Household
 Request documentation
 Provide contact information
Completing Verification
 With non-respondents, one follow-up attempt
is required
 LEA should document the follow-up attempt,
perhaps on the application
 If benefits reduced or terminated, inform
household in writing and provide appeal rights
 Unless appealed, change the child’s eligibility
status within 10 days
Verification Summary Report
 FNS-742, Verification Summary Report
 LEA submits annually to SA, by March 1
 SA consolidates reports and submits to FNS by
April 15
 Electronic submission available
SPECIAL PROVISIONS 1, 2 & 3
AND THE COMMUNITY
ELIGIBILITY OPTION
Provision 2
Simplified Counting & Claiming
 Schools make eligibility determinations and
count meals by type (F/RP/P) in the first year
(Base Year)
 Use claiming percentages from base year in
non-base years, take total meal counts only.
 Schools certify children for F/RP meals for up to
4 school years
 All students receive meals at no charge
Base Year Example
September 2011:
80 free meals
15 reduced price meals
+ 5 paid meals
= 100 total meals per day
80/100 = 80% Free
15/100 = 15% Reduced
5/100 = 5% Paid
Non-Base Year Example
September 2012
Total meal count for the month: 150
Reimbursement claim:
.80 x 150 = 120 free rate
.15 x 150 = 23 reduced price rate
.05 x 150 = 7 paid rate
Provision 3
Simplified Counting & Claiming
 Schools follow procedures similar to those
under Provision 2
 Schools receive the same level of federal cash
and commodity assistance each year, with
some adjustments, for a 4-year period
Provision 3
Simplified Counting & Claiming
 Base Year
 Outside of the 4-year cycle
 Offer meals either at no charge, or charge students
eligible for RP/P meals
 Make eligibility determinations andcount daily
meals by type
 Establish base year socioeconomic data
 Claim reimbursement from these counts
Provision 3
Simplified Counting & Claiming
 Non-Base Years
 Offer all meals at no charge
 Count total meals
 Claim reimbursement according to Base Year
numbers adjusted for:
 Inflation
 Change in enrollment
 Change in number of operating days
Extensions
 Provisions 2 and 3 can be extended for 4-years
if the income level of the school’s population:
 Remained stable
 Declined
 Had negligible improvement (5% or less)
Community Eligibility Option
 LEA or schools electing Community Eligibility option
serve all students free lunches and breakfasts for 4
successive school years.
 Must have a percentage of Identified Students greater than or
equal to 40% to qualify.
 Reimbursement claims are based on the percentage of
Identified Students multiplied by a factor of 1.6.
 The remainder of meals not covered under the
Identified Student percentage multiplied by the factor
will be reimbursed at the paid rate.
SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM
Severe Need Schools
 Schools receive higher reimbursement in SBP if
at least 40% of lunches served in the 2nd
preceding year were free or reduced price
 Schools without 2nd preceding year history
may be eligible
FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE
PROGRAM
School Selection Criteria
 Must be elementary school
 Must operate NSLP
 Must submit an application
 Must have at least 50% F/RP
 Priority given to schools with highest % of low-
income students
 Total enrollment of all schools must result in a
per-student allocation of $50-$75
 Provided apart from lunch or breakfast
SNACKS UNDER THE NSLP
AFTERSCHOOL SNACK SERVICE
 Sponsored or operated by school district
 Located in district where at least one school




participates in NSLP
All snacks served free at area eligible schools
Free, reduced price, and paid snacks at all
other schools
Children age 18, or under, at start of school
year
On regular school days
USDA Reimbursement
 One afterschool snack per child per day
 Meal pattern (2 of 4 items):
 fluid milk
 Vegetable or fruit
 Grains/bread
 meat/ meat alternate
 School must keep records
CHILD AND ADULT CARE
FOOD PROGRAM AND SUMMER
FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM
What does CACFP do?
 Provides reimbursements for:
 Nutritious meals to eligible children
12 years and under* in non-residential child care
 Afterschool meals and snacks to children 18 and under in
low-income areas
 Meals in emergency shelters to residents 18 and under
 Nutritious meals to eligible adults in
non-residential day care centers
 Operates year-round
At-risk afterschool meals
 Reimbursable supper, or another meal, and




snack
Located in low-income areas
All suppers and snacks served free
Children age 18, or under, at start of school
year
After school, week-ends, and holidays
What does SFSP do?
 Provides reimbursement for nutritious meals
and snacks during the summer months and
other extended school breaks in areas of
economic need
 Draws children to supervised activities that are
safe, fun, healthy and educational
 Fills the nutritional gap for children who rely on
free and reduced price school meals
 Schools can be sponsor sites when not in
session
SFSP advantages
 Receive maximum rates of reimbursement
 Pay for any allowable cost, whether
operating or administrative
 Plan and budget more reliably
 Waive review of experienced school sponsors’
budgets
 SFSP vs. Seamless Summer Option (SSO)
How can schools
participate in SFSP?
 Become a SPONSOR: organize meal
services for children at local schools, as well
as recreation centers, playgrounds, parks,
and camps
 Host a SITE: supervise children’s meals at the
local school
 Be a VENDOR: prepare and sell meals to
another sponsor
Seamless Summer Option
 Combines NSLP, SFSP, SBP
 Available to SFAs in any State
 Operates much like the NSLP
 Serves meals at summer site
 Goal is to encourage schools to provide summer
meals
Seamless Summer Option
 Serve all meals free to children
 May be used over long breaks in year around
schools
 Same recordkeeping/claim/documentation as
NSLP/SBP
 Receive NSLP/SBP rates
TEAM NUTRITION OVERVIEW AND
ONLINE RESOURCES
Team Nutrition
Goal
To improve children’s lifelong eating and
physical activity habits by using the principles
of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Objectives
Provide Foodservice Training and Technical Assistance
Provide Nutrition Education and Promotion Materials
Involve School and Community Partners in Promoting
Healthy Eating and Physical Activity
Be a Team Nutrition (TN)
School





Why Enroll?
Encourages partnerships between teachers,
school foodservice staff, principals and parents
Receive notification FIRST of new materials
Receive materials given ONLY to TN Schools
It’s EASY!
It’s FREE!!
Team Nutrition Resources
 Resources for schools
 MyPlate Resources
 Eat Smart. Play Hard.TM Resources
 Power of Choice
 Empowering Youth
 Nutrition Essentials
HealthierUS School Challenge
 Voluntary initiative
 Schools must meet specified criteria
 Certified for 4 years
 Local and National recognition
 To date, 3098 elementary and secondary schools
in 46 States are currently certified as Bronze,
Silver, Gold, or Gold of Distinction awardees
HealthierUS School Challenge
Resources
Visit http://www.teamnutrition.usda.gov/
 Online Interactive Applications
 Online Competitive Foods Calculator
 Online Technical Assistance Tools
 Application Kit
 Submit applications electronically
 Simplified district application process
What is the web address
for the FNS Child
Nutrition Programs?
www.fns.usda.gov/cnd
Web Resources Tutorial
 During this tutorial, we will:
 Acquaint you with the layout of the FNS website
 Direct you to valuable online information resources
 Show you how to enroll your school as a Team
Nutrition school and join the HealthierUS School
Challenge
SLI
DE
95
Thank You!