TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NOTE?

DATE: October 12, 2004
TO: District School Food Service Directors

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NOTE

No. 2005-14

School Business Services

FOOD AND NUTRITION MANAGEMENT

Contact: Irene Wimbush

John L. Winn, Commissioner

(850)

245-9334

SC 205-9334

DATE: October 12, 2004

TO:

District School Food Service Directors

FROM:

Diane Santoro, Administrator

Food and Nutrition Management (FNM)

SUBJECT: The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization of 2004 Amendment Expanding

Provisions 2 & 3 District-wide

Section 113 of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Act) amended the Special

Assistance section 11 (a)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to allow a school food

authorities (SFA), hereafter referred to as a Local Education Agency (LEA), to implement Provision 2

claiming percentages and Provision 3 calculations of federal cash and commodity assistance on a LEA-

wide basis. In keeping with legislative intent and to provide maximum administrative flexibility, it has

been determined that LEAs may extend this change either for all schools or for a subgroup of schools

under its administration. Therefore, it is not necessary that all schools in a LEA participate in Provision

2 or 3 in order to have a comprehensive claiming percentage or Provision 3 reimbursement. LEAs may

implement these provisions on a school by school basis, for all schools in a district, or for a subgroup of

schools within the district.

This technical assistance note provides the basic procedures for implementing Provision 2 or 3 LEA-

wide or for a subgroup of schools within a LEA. The procedures differ somewhat depending on the

status of the schools to be included in the group at the time of implementation. (The term ‘group’

should be understood to mean all schools which will be included under the provision – either all schools

in the district or all schools in the group which the LEA has selected to operate under the provision.)

If all of the schools in the group are currently operating under normal claiming procedures: A base

year must be established

For Provision 2: The sum of the meal counts by category for all schools in the group for the

base year will be used to develop the comprehensive claiming percentages. The common

base year becomes the base year for the group.

For Provision 3: The aggregate reimbursement for all schools in the group for the base year

will be the base year reimbursement. The aggregate enrollment for all schools in the group

will be the base year enrollment. The common base year becomes the base year for the

If all of the schools in the group are currently operating under the selected Provision:

For Provision 2: The sum of the prior year’s meal claims by category for all schools in the

groups will be used to develop the new claiming percentages.

For Provision 3: The sum of the prior year’s reimbursement claims for all schools in the

group will be the basis for subsequent year reimbursements and the prior year aggregate

enrollment for all schools will be the basis for subsequent year enrollment adjustments.

Under both Provisions, a common base year may be established for the group. If all schools

in the group have the same base year, that year is the base year for the group. If the schools

have different base years, the LEA may determine how many of the schools in the group

would be required to have a new base year in each of the next four years, beginning with the

first year in which the group is established. The year with the largest number of schools due

for a new base year can become the new base year for the group.

Alternatively, LEAs may elect to maintain individual base years for schools and recalculate

the group claiming percentages in the manner described above when a new claiming

percentage is established for one of the schools in the group.

If a LEA which has established group claiming percentages or reimbursement levels by

combining data from previously participating schools wishes to base renewal for the group as

a whole on socio-economic indicators rather than a regular or modified base year, the LEA

must first contact Food and Nutrition Management. Food and Nutrition Management will in

turn consult with Food and Nutrition Services to determine the appropriate statistical

indicators to be used to make the renewal determination.

If some schools are currently operating under the selected Provision and the district wants to add

other schools to the group:

The new schools will have to conduct a base year. Handle the calculation of claiming percentages or

reimbursement and enrollment the same as if you are combining schools currently operating under

Provisions with different base years. Alternatively, a new base year may be conducted for all schools in

the group.

The preceding information is provided as initial guidance for LEAs which may want to consider

implementing Provision 2 or 3 on a LEA or LEA-subgroup basis in the current school year. FNS plans

to issue more detailed guidance at a later date, including procedures for adding or deleting schools after

the group percentage or reimbursement level and enrollment are established. We will forward

additional information to you upon receipt.

If you have questions, please contact Robin Miles-Tennille at (800) 504-6609 or robin.miles@fldoe.org.

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