Implementing the Application/Agreement
Chapter 4 Alabama Department of Education
Chapter 4 Overview
• Permanent Agreement • Renewal Agreement
– Amendments
• LEAs Responsibilities
Permanent Agreement Includes
Application /Agreement LEA Information Form School Site Data Form Agreement Confirmation School/Program Change Policy for F/R Meals Special Assistance Certification Regarding Lobbying/Debarment, Suspension • Drug-Free Work Force Form • Audit Certification • USDA Commodity Agreement • • • • • • • • • • • • • CNP-1 Attachment C Attachment D Attachment F
Application/Agreement
Outlines the LEAs responsibility for program operation
Application Renewal
• Confirmation Form • Policy Statement • Other Contracts Letter to Household Meal Application Notification Letter Public Release Sponsor Data Information • School Site Data • • • • •
• Drug-Free Workplace • Audit Certification Debarment/Suspension
Sponsor Data Sheet
• Days of Operation
– Accounting will not allow payment for any days claimed over days/month LEA indicated – Accounting will not allow payment for any program not indicated on this form
School Site Data
• Enrollment indicated here is used in SA edit check • Programs indicated here are used in SA edit check
Free and Reduced Price Meals Policy
Qualifying for Free and Reduced-Price Meals
• Children from families with income at or below 130% of the poverty level are eligible for free meals. • Those with incomes between 130% and 185% of the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals. – Charge no more than $.40 for lunch, $.30 for breakfast and $.15 for snacks • Over 185% are full paying students. – Meals subsidized to some extent. – District sets own price for paid meals.
F/R Meals Policy Includes
• Application and • Instructions to Parents • Letter to Household • Notification to • Households • Public Release • Collection Procedures
– Meal Prices
Verification Procedures
– Method used – Notification Letter – Summary Process
Appeals Procedures
– Determining Official – Hearing Official – 2nd Party Official
• (3 different titles)
Types of Applications
• Single Child Applications - one child per application • Multi-Child Application - all school age children in the same household on one application
Types of Applications
• Multi-Use Application- grants permission to share eligibility status • Foreign Language Applications-required when significant number of enrolled students come from non-English speaking households
Letter To Households (Single/Multi-Child)
• All blanks complete • Hearing official is title/person indicated on Policy Statement • Indicate prices for meals
Notification Letter to Parents
• Indicate meal prices • Hearing official must be the same as indicated on Policy Statement
Letter of Predetermined Eligibility
• Directly certified households must receive written notification.
Public Release
• Fill in all blanks • Determining Official must be the same as indicated on Policy Statement • Hearing Official must be the same as indicated on Policy Statement
– (FMC- must be a district employee)
Attachment F Program Addition or Deletion
• Whenever adding a program use top portion of document. • Whenever deleting a program use the bottom portion of document. • Original signature of Authorized Representative required
Collection Procedures
• Description of procedures used for breakfast and lunch (may be same or different) • Read over 10 options, select the one that describes how the site is handling collection procedures. • This procedure will be examined when a Coordinated Review Effort Review (CRE) occurs in the school district. • If changed, submit for approval prior to implementation.
Hearing and Appeal Process
• Establish and use fair hearing procedures • During hearing and appeal process, child continues to receive current benefits • During appeal as a result of verification, benefits continue if appeal is made within 10day notice of adverse action • Update as needed and keep copy
Distribution of Applications
• School districts participating in the National School Lunch Program must distribute Free/Reduced price meal applications to parents/guardians of all students in attendance at the school • School Officials may not require a household to complete an application for benefits
Policy Statement
• Keep in a permanent file and refer to at the beginning of the year to assure compliance
After School Snack Program Forms
• Area Eligibility • Operation of ASSP Form • Snack Review Form
– Review 1st four weeks of operation – Review again before end of program
Non-Area and Area Eligible Sites
• Area Eligibility- site has 50% or more free and reduced-price meal eligible at location • Non-area eligible- site has less than 50% free or reduced eligible on file at location
– If a district has a school that is non-area eligible but the school is located in the attendance area of a school that qualifies as area eligible; it could be area eligible. – Non area eligible sites can claim at F/R/P rates.
• School can never charge children for snacks claimed at the free rate.
Eligible Programs
• To be eligible to qualify for reimbursement for ASSP:
– Must be operated by a school already participating in the NSLP. – Need to provide children with regularly scheduled activities in a setting that is structured and supervised. Does not have to occur daily. Does not have to be formal child care. Need documentation of a roster or sign-in sheet.
Eligible Programs
• Eligible programs must include education or enrichment activities in organized, structured, and supervised settings. • Extracurricular activities such as school choir, or drama society can qualify only if their basic purpose is the provide after school care as previously defined.
Eligible Programs
• At no time may organized athletic programs be approved. • However sports in combination with educational or enrichment activities may participate.
– Open to all students.
Eligible Sites
• Any school that is eligible to operate the NSLP. • Must be operated by the school, but they do not have to use the school’s personnel or regular facilities. – For example, the PTA can operate the ASSP. However, the school takes full responsibility for meeting program requirements.
Summer Food Service Program
Purpose of Summer Feeding
• To ensure that children in low-income areas continue to receive meals during long school vacations when they do not have access to school meals • Purpose of Seamless Summer Program
– Feed children in low-income areas during summer months with less paperwork and to limit the administrative burden.
SFSP
• www.fns.usda.gov • Children under 21 yrs. of age can participate • Only 2 meals can be claimed per child per day • Open-sites with 50% F/R eligible or higher • Closed Sites
Questions and Answers