Nutrition Services Division Management Bulletin |
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| Purpose: Policy, Beneficial Information | |
| To: School Nutrition Program Sponsors | Number USDA-SNP-34-2012 |
| Attention: Food Service Directors | Date: September 2012 |
| Subject: Residential Child Care Institutions Exception for Safety if Serving Meals to Multiple Age/Grade Groups | |
| Reference: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Policy Memo SP 38-2012 http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/policy.htm |
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This Management Bulletin (MB) provides information for Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCI), that meet certain requirements in which the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will allow them to serve the same amount of food to all participants, even when the age/grades being served span more than one age/grade group.
This age/grade group exception applies only to RCCIs that meet all criteria listed here:
- Juvenile detention or correctional facilities
- Have enrolled students who span more than one age/grade group
- Have legitimate safety concerns or state juvenile justice laws or regulations related to offering meals with varying amounts of food within the same meal period
The California Department of Education will allow RCCIs that meet the above requirements to serve all participants (enrolled students) the same amount of food during their meal service. These RCCIs shall serve meals meeting the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program meal patterns in effect for the highest age/grade group represented.
Approval
The “2012 Residential Child Care Institution (RCCI) Food Based Menu Planning Certification Exception Submittal” is available in the download forms section of the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System, identified as Form SNP 30. To request an exception, please complete and sign the form and submit it with the menu documentation for the 2012 Food Based Menu Planning certification packet. Your signature indicates that your RCCI meets the above requirements and would like to serve all students the same amount of food.
In addition, when submitting menu packets for certification, remember to:
- Use the USDA Menu Worksheet which represents the highest grade on site at the facility in which meals are served. The Menu Worksheet can be found as an attachment to USDA Policy Memo SP 34-2012, available on the USDA School Meals Policy Memos Web page at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/policy.htm.
- Indicate in the School Food Authority Notes tab of the USDA Menu Worksheet that the RCCI meets the above criteria and will be using one grade group for all participants.
If you have any questions regarding this MB, please contact Stephanie Enright, Child Nutrition Consultant, by e-mail at senright@cde.ca.gov or by phone at 916-323-0122; or Lori Porter, Child Nutrition Consultant by e-mail at lporter@cde.ca.gov or by phone at 916-322-1454.
