Food and Nutrition Programs

Provision 2 Base Year Validation

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. As part of the unified accountability system, State agencies are required to conduct a review of base year certification and benefit issuance documentation for any school food authority requesting approval to participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) using Special Provision 2. Since base year claims are the source of subsequent year claiming, it is essential that base year certification, meal counts, and funding levels are accurate.

The review will be conducted using one of the following methods:

1. Through a desk audit of sites establishing a base year when the school food authority is not scheduled for an Administrative Review (AR); or
2. Through the Administrative Review process if the school food authority is scheduled for an Administrative Review during the year that the school food authority is establishing a base year in the NSLP or SBP using Special Provision 2.

SFAs scheduled for an Administrative Review will follow all review procedures in the DESE Memorandum: National School Lunch Program Administrative Review and Procurement Review Process Preparation for Schools Scheduled for an Administrative Review in SY 2022-2023 issued September 23, 2022. Administrative Reviews are well underway for SY 2022-2023. No additional action is required for the Provision 2 Base Year districts other than preparing for the Administrative Review.

Provision 2 Base Year SFAs not scheduled for an Administrative Review will need to access the Provision 2 Base Year Checklist and Instructions available in the Document and Reference Library of the Security Portal under the NSLP – Provision 2 heading. The review packets are in the security portal. Navigate to School Lunch and Breakfast>Review Packets>Provision 2 Base Year Validation.

Provision 2 schools on the Administrative Review Schedule SY 2022-2023

Provision 2 Base Year Schools NOT scheduled for an Administrative Review

Access the Provision 2 Base Year Checklist and Instructions in the NSLP - Provision 2 section of the Document and Reference Library