Food & Nutrition

One of the Department’s primary goals is to make sure districts are given current information as it impacts child nutrition programs in Arkansas. The Department will release information through e-memos.

The most recent information will be posted below. If program participants are interested in reviewing USDA memos, those are available below as well.

E-Memos

USDA Memos

Child Nutrition-Related Commissioner’s Memos

• COM-25-055: Direct Certification with Medicaid for Free and Reduced-Price Meals
• COM-24-106: Meal Charges, Delinquent, and Bad Debt
• COM-24-005: 2023-2024 SY Reimbursement Rates, Non-Reimbursable Meal Prices, and Meal Equivalency for FSMC Contracts
• FIN-23-044:  2023-2024 Purchase Price Threshold for Bidding Commodities
• CNU-23-020: 2022-2023 Reporting Annual Arkansas Department of Health Inspections Conducted in Child Nutrition Food Preparation Sites
• CNU-23-019: Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Election Procedures for SY2023 – 2024
• CNU-23-018: Paid Lunch Equity for Child Nutrition Programs
• CNU-23-017: Identified Student Percentage Reporting
• CNU-23-016: Provision 2 USDA Alternative for Feeding Students at No Charge in High Poverty Population Areas
• CNU-23-015: Determining Eligibility for Severe Need and Safety Net Reimbursement for SY 2023-24 Meals Served
• COM-23-045: Nutrition and Physical Activity Standards and Body Max Index For Age Assessment Protocols in Arkansas Public Schools
• CNU-23-011: National School Lunch Program Verification Collection Report
• CNU-23-010: Third Allocation Child Nutrition Supply Chain Assistance Funds
• CNU-23-009: Annual Training for School Districts and Food Service Management Companies
• CNU-23-008: Registration of Food Service Management Companies for the 2023-2024 School Year
• CNU-23-007: Verification Sampling Methods
• CNU-23-006: Required Annual Training Topics and Hours for Child Nutrition Staff Base on Job Position
• CNU-23-005: Second Allocation Child Nutrition Supply Chain Assistance Funds
• CNU-23-004: Best Practices for School Meal Applications
• CNU-23-003: 2022-2023 Severe Need Reimbursement
• CNU-23-002: Reimbursement Rates for Child Nutrition Programs 2022-2023 School Year; Non-Reimbursable Meal Prices
• CNU-23-001: Afterschool Snack Program
• CNU-22-032: 2021-22 Arkansas State Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Plan
• CNU-22-031: Paid Lunch Equity for Child Nutrition Programs
• CNU-22-030: Child Nutrition Waivers Available for Summer 2022 & SY 2022-2023
• CNU-22-029: Meal Eligibility and 30-day carryover for SY 2022-2023
• CNU-22-027: Provision 2 USDA Alternative for Feeding Students at No Charge in High Poverty Population Areas
• CNU-22-026: Claiming Preschool Meals for Reimbursement
• FIN-22-039:  Purchase Price Threshold for Bidding Commodities
• CNU-22-024: Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Election Procedures for SY2022 – 2023
• CNU-22-023: Reporting Annual Arkansas Department of Health Inspections Conducted in Child Nutrition Food Preparation Sites
• CNU-22-022: Funding Opportunity – Fresh Fruit and vegetable program SY 2022-2023
• CNU-22-021: Summer Feeding 2022
• CNU-22-020: SY 2022-2023 Maximum Portion Size
• CNU-22-019: Identified Student Percentage Reporting
• CNU-22-018: Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium effective July 1, 2022
• CNU-22-017: Child Nutrition Supply Chain Assistance Funds
• CNU-22-016: 2022 Culinary Directions Child Nutrition Directors Certification Program
• CNU-22-015: 2022 Culinary Directions for Managers Part 1 and Part 2
• CNU-22-012: Utilizing Offer versus Serve in Child Nutrition Programs
• CNU-22-011: Training for Procuring Services with Food Service Management Companies in Child Nutrition Programs
• CNU-22-010: Registration of Food Service Management Company SY 2022-2023
• CNU-22-009: Waiver to Allow Fiscal Action Flexibility for Meal Pattern Violations related to Supply Chain Disruptions for SY 21-22
• CNU-22-008: National School Lunch Program Verification Collection Report
• CNU-22-007: Application for Alternate I or Alternate II Verification Sample Size
• CNU-22-006: National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Equipment Assistance Grants- Fiscal Year 2021
• CNU-22-004: Civil Rights Compliance in Child Nutrition Programs SY2021-2022
• FIN-22-008:  Child Nutrition Emergency Operating Costs Reimbursement
• CNU-22-003: Child Nutrition Questions and Answers for SY 2021-2022
• CNU-22-002: Reimbursement Rates for Child Nutrition Programs 2021-2022 School Year and Non-Reimbursable Meal Prices
• CNU-22-001: Paid Lunch Equity for Child Nutrition Programs
• FIN-21-050:  Purchase Price Threshold for Bidding Commodities
• CNU-21-027: Student Eligibility and eSchool Rollover for SY 2021-2022 School Year
• CNU-21-025: Child Nutrition Nationwide Waivers for SY 2021-2022
• CNU-21-022; Procurement Plan and Procedures
• CNU-21-020: FNS Nondiscrimination Statement and Required Posting Information 
• CNU-21-018: USDA Extends SSO Feeding Waivers Through 2021 Summer Feeding Operations
• CNU-21-012: Prior Approval Process for School Food Authority (SFA) Equipment Purchases
• CNU-21-010: On-Site Review Requirements
• CNU-21-008: United States Department of Agriculture extends meal service at no cost to students through June 30, 2021
• CNU-21-006: United States Department of Agriculture Extends Free Meals for Students Through December 31, 2020
• CNU-21-002: Reimbursement Rates for Child Nutrition Programs 2020-2021 School Year; Non-Reimbursable Meal Prices
• CNU-21-001: National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program USDA Waivers for SY 2020-2021
• CNU-20-035: Child Nutrition Nationwide Waiver Extensions
• CNU-20-034: Identified Student Percentage Reporting
• CNU-20-033: Paid Lunch Equity Guidance for School Year 2020-21
• CNU-20-028: Fruit Meal Pattern Requirements in the School Breakfast Program
• CNU-20-027: Soliciting Bids for Processed USDA Donated Foods
• CNU-20-025: Hiring Requirements for Child Nutrition Directors
• CNU-20-024: Fiscal Action Related to Child Nutrition
• CNU-20-023: Wellness Committee Responsibilities
• CNU-20-022: USDA Wellness Policy Requirements: Is Your District Due for a Triennial Assessment?
• CNU-20-019: Meal Modifications to Accommodate Students with Disabilities in School Meal Programs
• CNU-20-017: Reminder: Requirements for Students Transferring Meal Eligibility from Provision to non-Provision Schools
• CNU-20-016: Salad Bars in the National School Lunch Program
• CNU-20-015: Local Foods Guide and Adherence to the Buy American Requirements
• CNU-20-014: Minimizing Food Waste
• CNU-20-013: Re-Service of Milk
• CNU-20-010: New Food Items: Crediting Foods in the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Afterschool Snack Programs
• CNU–20-007: Smart Snacks Regulations and Second Trays – Update
• CNU-20-006: SY2019-2020 Unpaid Meal Charges
• CNU-19-026: FY 2019 Child and Adult Care Food Program Guidance
• CNU-19-024: Wellness and Smart Snack: Documenting the Nine Special Event Days in the eSchool Calendar
• CNU-19-019: Flexibility in Effective Date of Free or Reduced Price Meal Eligibility
• CNU-19-017: Clarification on the Milk and Water Requirements in School Meal Programs
• CNU-19-004: School Food Service Account Revenue from the Sale of Non-Program Foods
• CNU-19-002: Eligibility Manual for Determining Student Meal Status
• LS-18-080: Wellness Committee Responsibilities: School Health Index Assessment
• CNU-18-036: Milk Substitutions in Child Nutrition Programs
• CNU-18-035:  APSCN Financial Expenditure Codes for School Food Authorities using Contracted Services in Child Nutrition Programs
• CNU-18-032: Guidance Regarding Act 575 and Child Nutrition Allowable Expenses
• CNU-18-026: Assessing Proposed Costs for Nutrition Education and Marketing Materials
• CNU-18-016: Regulations and Processes Impacting the Payment of the Child Nutrition Claims for Reimbursement
• CNU-18-009: Compliance with and Enforcement of the Buy American Provision in the Child Nutrition Programs
• CNU-18-006: Grain-Based Desserts in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
• CNU-18-005: Flexibility for Co-Mingled Preschool Meals; Questions and Answers
• CNU-17-048: Web-Based Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications
• CNU-17-030: Child Nutrition Administrative Review Required Public Notification
• CNU-17-027: Wellness Policies: Tips for Addressing Policies for Food and Beverage Marketing
• CNU-17-019: Child Nutrition Monitoring of Vending Machines
• CNU-17-016: Wellness Policy Requirements: Updates from USDA Final Rule
• CNU-17-013: Wellness Committee Responsibilities: A Joint Memo from ADE Child Nutrition and School Health Services
• CNU-17-003: Unpaid Meal Charges: Local Meal Charge Policy and Clarification on Collection of Delinquent Meal Payments
• CNU-17-001: Meaningful Access for Persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) in the School Meal Programs: Guidance and Questions and Answers (Q&A)
• CNU-16-046: How to Operate a “Self-Sustaining” Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program 
• CNU-16-044: Smart Snacks in Arkansas Schools: Providing, Selling, and “9 Special Event Days”
• CNU-16-043: Healthy Snacks for Designated Testing Days
• FIN-15-114: Guidance on Prohibition of Separation by Gender during Child Nutrition Program Meal Service
• FIN-15-050: Farm to School and School Garden Expenses
• FIN-15-048: Enhancing the School Food Safety Program
• FIN-15-041: On-line Fees in School Meals Programs