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  • National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program

National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) are federally assisted meal programs through the United States Department of Agriculture operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free breakfast and lunches to children each school day. The USDA Foods Program supports domestic nutrition programs and American agricultural producers through purchases of 100% Americangrown and -produced foods for use by schools and institutions participating in the federal programs.

If your entity would like to become a School Food Authority of the National School Lunch Program, please contact (602) 542-8700 or email [email protected]. The first step towards providing healthy meals to your students begins with the Prospective Sponsoring Entity Form.

  • Prospective Sponsoring Entity Form

The USDA Foods and the Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Produce Programs provide nutritious foods for schools to use in their school nutrition programs. If you would like to join these programs, please contact Nan Flores at [email protected] or (602) 542-8729.

  • National School Lunch Program (3-day, 4-day, 5-day, 6-day, 7-day)
  • School Breakfast Program (3-day, 4-day, 5-day, 6-day, 7-day)

Administrative Reviews (ARs)

ADE must conduct Administrative Reviews (ARs) of all School Food Authorities (SFAs) of the NSLP and/or SBP at least once during each three-year review cycle. The AR consists of an off-site portion where the reviewer will requests documents for the SFA to submit, and an on-site portion where the reviewer will observe meal service at a select number of sites within the SFA. The reviewer will notify the SFA of the deadline for the off-site portion, the date of the on-site portion, and the sites that will be reviewed. Each year, ADE will announce the list of SFAs scheduled to receive an AR in the upcoming school year. The following programs will also be reviewed, if operating: Afterschool Care Snack Program, At-Risk Afterschool Meals, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Seamless Summer Option of the Summer Food Service Program.

  • Administrative Review Schedule: School Year 2021-2022
  • School Food Authority Appeal Procedure for the Administrative Review 

 

Procurement Reviews 

The procurement review assesses compliance surrounding the SFA's procurement of goods and services.

  • Procurement Review Schedule: School Year 2021-2022

School Nutrition Program Manual

  • Introduction to the School Nutrition Programs
  • Application to the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program
  • Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCI)
  • Student Eligibility
  • Verification
  • Second Review of Applications
  • Meal Pattern
  • Smart Snacks in Schools (Competitive Foods)
  • Accommodating Special Dietary Needs
  • Meal Counting and Claiming
  • Professional Standards for School Nutrition Personnel
  • Civil Rights
  • Food Safety
  • Local Wellness Policy
  • Resource Management
  • Potable Water
  • Outreach for School Breakfast
  • Special Assistance Provisions
  • Administrative Review
  • Procurement
  • Farm to School
  • USDA Foods and Department of Defense Fresh Produce

ADE Toolkits

  • Breakfast in the Classroom Toolkit
  • Grab ‘N’ Go Breakfast Toolkit
  • Second Chance Breakfast Toolkit
  • Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Education Toolkit

USDA Manuals and Handbooks

  • The Eligibility Manual for School Meals, Revised July 2017 (changes highlighted)
  • The 2017 Edition: Overcoming the Unpaid Meal Challenge: Proven Strategies from Our Nation’s Schools
  • USDA's Accommodating Children with Disabilities in the School Meal Programs Guidance 
  • Food Buying Guide
  • Offer Versus Serve Manual, Effective beginning School Year 2015-2016
  • Offering Meats and Meat Alternates at School Breakfast - Grades Kindergarten Through 12 (K-12) 
  • Offering Smoothies as Part of Reimbursable School Meals - Grades Kindergarten Through 12 (K-12)
  • Special Assistance: Provision 2 Guidance
  • Community Eligibility Provisions: Planning and Implementation Guidance
  • Guide to Professional Standards for School Nutrition Programs
  • Food-Safe Schools Action Guide - Creating a Culture of Food Safety
  • Guidance for School Food Authorities: Developing a School Food Safety Program Based on the Process Approach to HACCP Principles
  • Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Handbook for Schools
  • USDA Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs

Financial Guidance

  • Indirect Costs: Guidance for State Agencies & School Food Authorities
  • The Uniform System of Financial Records for Arizona School Districts
  • The Uniform System of Financial Records for Arizona Charter Schools
  • The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars
  • State Match for Districts
  • State Match for Charters
  • Institute of Child Nutrition Financial Management Information System - 2nd Edition
  • Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs

  • Administrative Reviews Summary
  • CEP Annual Notification and Publication for School Year (SY) 2022-2023
  • Verification Non-Response Rate Report

The upLIFT webpage is created for you, the school nutrition professional, to learn and get inspired in how and what you feed your students. We hope you share your successes and ideas to teach your colleagues of Arizona. Together we can influence positive dietary behaviors in
students!

The School Nutrition Programs Advisory Council (SNPAC) is comprised of dedicated school nutrition professionals who will advise ADE on issues that impact growth, compliance, and nutrition integrity in Arizona school nutrition programs. The SNPAC consists of 13 individuals representing 38 LEAs and 178 sites in Arizona. The council members were carefully selected to create a diverse and representative sample of LEAs in Arizona. The SNPAC will be meeting monthly in Program Year 2021. SFAs are encouraged to contact the SNPAC member who best represents their LEA with any questions or concerns they would like to bring to the council.

  • Meet the SNPAC

The Arizona Farm to School Network envisions an Arizona food system in support of schools, producers and industry partners (distributors and processors) that work to engage children in healthy eating and connections made to where food comes from.

  • Meet your Arizona Farm to School Network Leadership
  • Strategic Work Plan
  • Get involved with the Arizona Farm to School Network

 

Arizona Farm to School Network Gathering was held on March 5, 2021.

  • Agenda
  • (Slides) (AM Recording) (PM Recording)

 

Resources for Operators

Program Forms and Resources

Training

Reimbursement Rates

Sign Up For Our Email Updates

 

  • COVID-19: Guidance to Child Nutrition Operators
  • Providing Meals During the School Day
    • National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program
  • Providing Meals/Snacks in Childcare and Adult Care
    • Child Care Centers
    • Family Day Care Homes
    • Adult Care Centers
    • Emergency Shelters
  • Providing Meals/Snacks After School
    • Afterschool Care Snack Program and At-Risk Afterschool Meals
  • Providing Meals/Snacks During the Summer
    • Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option
  • Peer to Peer Support for Child Nutrition Professionals
  • HNS/USDA Memos
  • Free and Reduced-Price Percentage Report
  • Civil Rights
  • Submit Data Request

Contact

  • Health & Nutrition Services
  • (602) 542-8700
  • [email protected]

From the Health and Nutrition Services Blog

2022 Farm Fresh Challenge Fri, Oct 22 2021

2022 Farm Fresh Challenge

Interested in Creating Your Kitchen? Fri, May 7 2021

The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) is excited to announce a new partnership with the Chef Ann Foundation, Life Time Foundation, and Whole Kids Foundation! These organizations are part of the newly formed ScratchWorks Collective and are dedicated to improving the quality of school meals and love sharing their expertise with school nutrition professionals. These partners look forward to supporting 10 Arizona Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) in a three-phase program to help operators regain their kitchens and menus as they recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chef Ann Foundation will kick-off this collaborative work by sending a culinary trained school food operational expert to each of the selected LEAs for a one-day on-site consultation to create a two-year plan with built-in mentoring designed to transform your kitchens, develop your staff, and take control of your finances to support the menu of your dreams. 

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