Civil Rights
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) requires School Food Authorities (SFAs) to administer program services and benefits in accordance with all laws, regulations, instructions, policies, and guidance related to nondiscrimination in program delivery.
SFA On-Site Monitoring
The State Agency must determine that each School Food Authority (SFA) with more than one school operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) performs at least one on-site review. This on-site review must evaluate the lunch counting and claiming system used by the school and must observe the general areas of review that are readily observable in each school under its jurisdiction. The State Agency (SA) must also ensure that each SFA with more than one school operating the School Breakfast Program (SBP) performs at least one on-site review. The on-site review must evaluate the breakfast counting and claiming system used by the school and must observe the readily observable general areas of review. A minimum of 50 percent of the schools operating the SBP under the SFA's jurisdiction must be monitored at least once every two years.
Sponsors with only one school site are not required to conduct on-site monitoring but are highly encouraged to conduct a monitoring self-assessment to ensure integrity and accountability. The on-site reviews must occur by February 1 of each year.
Local School Wellness Policy
Schools play a critical role in promoting children's health, preventing childhood obesity, and preventing diet-related chronic diseases. To help foster a healthy school environment, Section 204 of the Healthy, Hunger Free-Kids Act added a Section 9A to the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to expand the scope of wellness policies.
School districts can develop wellness policies to meet the unique needs of each school under its jurisdiction, but at a minimum are required to:
- Include goals for nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that promote students wellness. In developing these goals, local educational agencies must review and consider evidence-based strategies.
- Include nutrition guidelines for all foods sold on each school campus during the school day that are consistent with federal regulations for school meal and Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.
- Include policies for foods and beverages made available to students (e.g., in classroom parties, classroom snacks brought by parents, other foods given as incentives).
- Include policies for food and beverage marketing that allow marketing and advertising of only those foods and beverages that meet the Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.
- Permit parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, teachers of physical education, school health professionals, the school board, school administrators, and the general public to participate in the development, implementation, and update of the local school wellness policy.
- Identify one or more school districts or school officials who have the authority and responsibility to ensure each school complies with the policy.
- Inform and update the public (including parents, students, and others in the community) about the local school wellness policy on an annual basis.
- At least once every 3 years, measure how schools are in compliance with the local school wellness policy, the extent to which the local education agency’s local wellness policy compares to model local school wellness policies, and the progress made in attaining the goals of the local wellness policy. Make the assessment available to the public.
School Meal Environment
Smart Snacks in Schools
Schools must meet the minimum requirements in 7 CFR 210.11 for all foods and beverages sold in school (also known as
Smart Snacks in School) to increase the consumption of healthful foods during the school day and support a healthy school environment. The State Agency's (SA) responsibility is to understand the entities responsible for selling foods/beverages to students and to ensure that food and beverages sold meet the minimum requirements established in 7 CFR 210.11.
Professional Standards
Water
Plain drinking water must be made available to students during meal service times. However, program operators may not promote or offer water or any other beverage as an alternative selection to fluid milk throughout the food service area.
Food Safety, Storage, and Buy America
It is the School Food Authority's (SFA) responsibility to ensure that all selected schools meet the food safety and storage requirements and the regulations. This includes any facility where food is stored, prepared, or served for the purposes of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), or other Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) programs. The SFA's also must ensure that all schools comply with the Buy American provision and policy.
Refer to the following At a Glance documents for guidance on food safety:
Reporting and Recordkeeping
The School Food Authority's (SFA) must submit reports as required by the State agency, and maintain other Program records for a period of three years after submission of the final Claim for Reimbursement for the fiscal year. If audit findings have not been resolved, the three-year period is extended as long as required for the resolution of audit issues. Additionally, the record retention period required by a State may exceed the three-year period (7 CFR 210.23(c)).
School Breakfast Program and Summer Food Program Outreach
School Food Authority's (SFAs) must inform families of the availability of breakfasts offered under the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and meals offered through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).