Certification of Meal Pattern Compliance for School Nutrition Programs

Overview


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The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) provided an additional 6 cents per lunch reimbursement to school food authorities (SFAs) certified by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) to be in compliance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) meal patterns for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). Certification applies to all public schools, private schools, and residential child care institutions (RCCIs) that participate in the NSLP and SBP. Compliance is determined when:

  • a local educational agency becomes a new sponsor of the school nutrition programs; and
  • during the CSDE's Administrative Review of the sponsor's school nutrition programs.

SFAs that maintain compliance with meal requirements continue to receive this performance-based funding, which the USDA adjusts annually if needed. The current performance-based reimbursement rate is 9 cents per reimbursable lunch. Noncompliant SFAs do not receive the additional reimbursement.


Certification Requirements for Menus for Grades K-12

Meal Pattern Resources