Overview
School Nutrition Programs | Program Guidance | Forms | Resources | Nutrition Education
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires that state agencies (SAs) conduct a comprehensive Administrative Review (AR) of public schools, private schools, and residential child care institutions (RCCIs) that participate in the USDA school nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Afterschool Snack Program (ASP), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), and Special Milk Program (SMP). The review cycle is every three years for each school food authority (SFA).
The AR requirements are summarized in the USDA final rule, Administrative Reviews in the School Nutrition Programs (81 FR 50170). For more information, visit the Connecticut State Department of Education’s (CSDE) Administrative Review for School Nutrition Programs webpage.
Report Requirements
Section 207 of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) amended section 22 of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769c) to require SAs to report each SFA's final AR results to the public in an accessible, easily understood manner. The NSLP regulations 7 CFR 210.18(m) require SAs to post a summary of each SFA’s most recent final AR results, no later than 30 days after the SA provides the AR results to the SFA. The CSDE’s AR summary report covers the areas below.
Meal Access and Reimbursement
- Certification and Benefit Issuance
- Verification
- Meal Counting and Claiming
Meal Pattern and Nutrition Quality
- Meal Components and Quantities
- Offer versus Serve (OVS)
- Dietary Specifications and Nutrient Analysis
General Areas
- Civil Rights
- Local School Wellness Policy
- Smart Snacks in Schools
- Food Safety, Storage, and Buy American
Go to Documents/Forms in the left navigation bar to access the AR Summary Reports.