Nutrition Services Division Management Bulletin
Purpose: Policy, Action Required
To: Child Nutrition Program Sponsors
Attention: Authorized Representatives, Food Program Directors, and Food Service Directors
Number: NSD-CNP-08-2013
Date: May 2013; Updated March 2025
Reference: California Civil Code, Section 1798 et seq., California Government Code, sections 11015.5 and 11019.9, and applicable California State Administrative Manual Information Security provisions (sections 5300–5399)
Subject: Child Nutrition Information and Payment System User Acceptance Agreement
This management bulletin notifies districts and agencies that participate in the Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) of a new User Acceptance Agreement (UAA) that users of the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) must read and sign.
Background
The California Department of Education (CDE) must enact and maintain a privacy policy pursuant to California Civil Code Section 1798 et seq., California Government Code sections 11015.5 and 11019.9, and applicable California State Administrative Manual Information Security provisions (sections 5300–5399). The CDE established the UAA in order to regulate CNIPS use. By signing the UAA, CNIPS users agree to access the CNIPS in a responsible and professional manner—reflecting a commitment to honest, ethical, and non-discriminatory business practices. The CDE will monitor users of the CNIPS in order to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system.
Action Required
Each authorized representative, food program director, and food service director must:
- Read, sign, and retain the original UAA hard copy onsite. The UAA is available in the Download Forms section of the CNIPS, Form CNP 01 SNP, titled CNIPS User Acceptance Agreement
- Collect and retain all other signed copies of the UAA from all other designated users of the CNIPS
- Ensure that only active users and employees of CNP agencies/districts have access to the CNIPS
- Provide copies of the agency/district’s UAA upon request
Non-compliance may create serious deficiencies for agencies, districts, and their responsible principals in operating the CNPs.
Contact Information
If you have any questions regarding this management bulletin, please contact the appropriate Nutrition Services Division staff member for your agency.
School Nutrition Programs (SNP): A list of SNP specialists is available in the Download Forms section of the CNIPS, Form ID Caseload SNP, or you can email the SNP Unit at SNPInfo@cde.ca.gov.
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP): A list of SFSP specialists is available in the Download Forms section of the CNIPS, Form ID SFSP 01, or you can email the Summer Nutrition Program Unit at SFSP@cde.ca.gov.