Tips to Increase Success in an SNP AR

School food authorities (SFA) are encouraged to review following resources and advice for the prereview portion of the administrative review (AR).

• Review U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the California Department of Education (CDE) administrative review (AR) resources:
  
  
  • USDA AR Manual–The SFA can review the AR Manual by completing the following steps:
    
    
    • Log in to the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) with a User ID and password
    • On the Programs screen—select School Nutrition Programs
    • On the Welcome screen—select the Applications tab
    • On the Applications screen—select Download Forms
    • On the Download Forms screen—select Manual AR
      
      
  • USDA Policy Memorandums–The SFA can review USDA School Meal Policy Memos
    
    
  • CDE On-site AR Guidance–The SFA can review the CDE On-site AR Guidance by completing the following steps:
    
    
    • Log in to the CNIPS with a User ID and password
    • On the Programs screen—select School Nutrition Programs
    • On the Welcome screen—select the Applications tab
    • On the Applications screen—select Download Forms
    • On the Download Forms screen—select SNP 42
      
      
• Complete the Off-site Assessment Tool in the CNIPS at least eight weeks prior to the scheduled review. This allows ample time for the CDE to evaluate the tool and prepare for the upcoming review. Failure to meet this deadline may result in a comprehensive review. The SFA can complete the Off-site Assessment Tool by completing the following steps:
  
  
  • Log in to the CNIPS with a User ID and password
  • On the Programs screen—select School Nutrition Programs
  • On the Welcome screen—select the Compliance tab
  • On the Compliance screen—select Review Tracking
  • On the SNP Reviews screen—select Details corresponding to the current AR
  • On the Review Dashboard screen—select Detail corresponding to Review Forms
  • On the Review Forms screen—select Modify next to Off-site Assessment SFA Forms
    
    
• Contact your Reviewer in advance for clarification and guidance.
  
  
• Ensure that all operational Procedures are up-to-date (e.g., meal applications, verification, meal counting and collection, policy statement, medical statements, and civil rights).
  
  
• Monitor sites to ensure the procedures are implemented correctly.
  
  
• Double check Eligibility Applications and meal benefit procedures. Benefit Issuance Documents (rosters) must be generated from the point of service (POS) for all sites for each month.
  
  
• Organize all documents for Menu Review: menu production records, recipes with meal contribution, product formulation statements, Child Nutrition (CN) labels, and nutrition facts labels.
  
  
• Check daily and weekly menu Meal Pattern requirements to avoid missing Components and shortages in the vegetable subgroups, particularly legumes, grains, and whole grain rich requirements. If meal components are short or missing, the review will expand to the month of review.
  
  
• Check that Offer verses Serve procedures are implemented correctly.
  
  
• Check Signage for breakfast and lunch to ensure that students know what is included in a reimbursable meal.
  
  
• Offer the full meal pattern in the required quantities if traditional meal service or field trips (i.e., no Offer versus Serve)
  
  
  • Kindergarten through grade eight = ¾ cup vegetables
  • Grades nine through twelve = 1 cup vegetables
    
    
• Collaborate with your Chief Business Official (CBO) to prepare the documents that are required for the Resource Management area of review. Net Cash Resources (NCR) will be reviewed for all SFAs.
  
  
• Check meal counts for the After School Snack Program to ensure they do not exceed attendance.