Food and Nutrition Programs

National School Lunch Program Administrative Review and Procurement Review Process Preparation for Schools Scheduled for an Administrative Review in SY 2022-2023

The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, as amended by the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA), requires a unified accountability system designed to ensure that participating school food authorities (SFAs) comply with National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) requirements. The Act also requires an accountability system that conducts Administrative Reviews (AR) to evaluate program requirements for NSLP and SBP.

In March 2021, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office for Food and Nutrition Programs, applied for a single waiver request for a 6-year administrative review cycle extension through June 30, 2025; this request was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).

There are currently three Virtual Open House Q&A sessions scheduled to answer questions on the Administrative Review and Procurement Review processes. In addition, there are several online learning modules available through the John C. Stalker Institute that focus on specific content areas.

Structured Targeted Administrative Review Follow-Up reviews are scheduled with sponsors to address previous Corrective Action findings and include re-visiting the sponsor to ensure that the corrective actions have been implemented to maintain program integrity.

Please refer to the list below to see if your Local Educational Agency (LEA) is scheduled for a NSLP AR and Procurement Review or a Targeted Administrative Review Follow-Up during this school year.

Training Opportunities Available

Administrative Review Specific Training Tools:

1. SY 2022/23 Administrative Review Open House:
   Register for one of the virtual training sessions held from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm:

   • Wednesday, October 5, 2022
   • Wednesday, October 19, 2022
   • Wednesday, November 2, 2022
   
   

   These sessions will focus on answering questions about the steps SFA's should take to prepare their records for ARs. These training sessions will not be recorded.

2. Preparing for the FY23 Administrative Review

3. Nuts and Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand Modules:
   Our online learning modules reviewing the Administrative Review Process and Resource Management are available to be taken at your own pace. We strongly encourage participants of the virtual training session to complete this module before you attend to help you prepare questions for DESE staff.

4. Nuts and Bolts of School Nutrition Programs Summer Series:
   A series of recorded presentations that focus on performance standard 1 & 2 compliance areas are available to help SFA's confirm their understanding of specific compliance issues that will be assessed during the administrative review.

Procurement Review Specific Training Tools:

1. Procurement Review from Start to Finish
   Procurement reviews are a specialized monitoring activity that districts can be selected for in addition to their Administrative Review. Ensuring your procurement practices are in line with regulations long before being selected is key to being prepared. Join us to learn steps you can take today to prepare for a procurement review!

2. Nuts and Bolts of School Nutrition Programs Summer Series
   A series of recorded presentations that focus on financial management and procurement are available to help SFA's confirm their understanding of specific compliance issues that will be assessed during the procurement review.

   • Procurement
   • Financial Management: Procedures, Budgeting and Analysis
   • Financial Management: Paid Lunch Equity, Non-Program Foods and Indirect Costs
   • Buy American Provision

Administrative Review Schedule SY 2022-2023

**Your DESE reviewer will reach out to coordinate the scheduled review date(s)**

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.