Overview
School Nutrition Programs | Program Guidance | Forms | | Nutrition Education
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National School Lunch Program (NSLP) regulations (7 CFR 210.30 and 7 CFR 235.11(h) require professional standards for employees who manage and operate the NSLP and School Breakfast Program (SBP). The regulations require minimum hiring standards for new state and local directors of school nutrition programs and annual continuing education/training requirements for state directors and all local school nutrition personnel. Directors hired before July 1, 2015, are exempt from the hiring standards and grandfathered in based on their existing positions.
These standards ensure that school nutrition personnel have the knowledge, training, and tools needed to plan, prepare, and purchase healthy products to create nutritious, safe, and enjoyable school meals.
- Minimum hiring standards: These standards apply to new school nutrition program directors based on a school district’s size. For more information, refer to the USDA's, Professional Standards for School Nutrition Program Professionals: Summary of Updates Effective May 2019.
- Annual training standards: These standards apply to all school nutrition program directors, managers, and staff. The chart below summarizes the required continuing education hours per year. The required training topic areas vary according to the position and job requirements. For detailed guidance, refer to the USDA's Guide to Professional Standards for School Nutrition Programs.
Minimum Annual Training Requirements for School Nutrition Employees * | |
Job Category | Continuing Education Hours |
Directors | 12 |
Managers | 10 |
All Other Staff (other than the director or manager) who works an average of at least 20 hours per week | 6 |
Part-time Staff (work less than 20 hours per week) | 4 |
Mid-year Hires in All Categories (January 1 or later) | Half of training requirement for each job category |
* Annual requirements apply to the 12 months between July 1 and June 30. |
Guidance
- USDA Memo SP 05-2020: Questions & Answers Regarding Professional Standards for State and Local School Nutrition Program Personnel
- CSDE Requirements for Each Discretionary Area (indicated in USDA Memo SP 38-2016)
- Hiring and Professional Standards for School Child Nutrition Program Personnel: Memo to Superintendent's, October 16, 2019