USDA Proposed Rule on Professional Standards

1. USDA Proposed Rule onProfessional Standards

2. In 2009…

3. Just the Facts • FNS issued a Proposed Rule on Professional Standards for School Nutrition Professionals. • SNA immediately activated the Professional Standards Task Force to craft official response. • SNA encourages you to provide comments to SNA on thoughts and concerns. • Members can also submit own comments to USDA.

4. Just the Facts • The Proposed Rule implements four directives from the HHFKA: • mandatory minimum education, training and certification requirements for school nutrition directors; • annual training and certification requirements for local school nutrition personnel; • criteria and standards for the selection of State Agency directors with responsibility for NSLP and SBP; and • mandatory state-provided annual training of local educational agency and school nutrition personnel in administrative practices under the NSLP and SBP.

5. Just the Facts • The requirements of the Proposed Rule will not take effect until July 1, 2015. • Education/experience qualifications will not apply to current personnel. • Requirements will only apply to persons hired on or after July 1, 2015. • Continuing training requirements will apply to all personnel .

6. Feedback Process Agree Neutral Disagree

7. Required Minimum Education Standards:Directors in ≤ 2,499 School Districts • Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in listed fields; OR • Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with any academic major or area of concentration, and a State-recognized certificate in listed fields; OR • Associate’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in listed fields; and at least one year of relevant school nutrition programs experience; OR • High school diploma (or GED) and 5 years of relevant experience in school nutrition programs.

8. Required Minimum Education Standards:Directors in 2,500-9,999 School Districts • Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in listed fields; OR • Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with any academic major or area of concentration, and a State-recognized certificate in listed fields; OR • Associate’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in listed fields; and at least one year of relevant school nutrition programs experience; OR • High school diploma (or GED) and 5 years of relevant experience in school nutrition programs.

9. Required Minimum Education Standards:Directors in ≥ 10,000 School Districts • Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in listed fields; OR • Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with any academic major or area of concentration, and a State-recognized certificate in listed fields; OR • Associate’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in listed fields; and at least one year of relevant school nutrition programs experience; OR • High school diploma (or GED) and 5 years of relevant experience in school nutrition programs.

10. Poll! Agree Neutral Disagree

11. Preferred Minimum Education Standards • Directors in ≤ 2,499 School Districts: • Directors hired without an associate’s degree are encouraged to work toward attaining one.

12. Preferred Minimum Education Standards: • Directors in 2,500-9,999 School Districts: • Directors hired without a bachelor’s degree strongly encouraged to work toward bachelor’s.

13. Preferred Minimum Education Standards: • Directors in ≥ 10,000 School Districts: • Master’s degree, or willingness to work toward a Master’s degree. • At least one year of management experience, preferably in school nutrition, strongly recommended. • At least 3 credit hours at the university level in food service management plus at least 3 credit hours in nutritional sciences.

14. Poll! Agree Neutral Disagree

15. Minimum Prior Training Standards • At least 8 hours of food safety training 3 years prior to their starting date or completed within 30 days of start date. • For all newly hire directors regardless of school district size.

16. Required Minimum Training & Education Standards Required for all current and new hires regardless of school district size.

17. Poll! Agree Neutral Disagree

18. State Agency Standards • State directors hired after July 1, 2015 required to have: • Bachelor’s degrees, • Knowledge and experience in institutional food service, operations, management, business and/or nutrition education, and • additional leadership and management skills related to child nutrition. • Degree needs to have concentration in listed fields. • Strongly prefer a Master’s degree, five years of experience and professional certification. • 15 hours of additional annual training.

19. State Agency Provided Training • State agencies must: • 18 hours of annual training to SFAs and state distribution agencies. • Topics include: • administrative practices • accuracy of approvals for free and reduced price meals, • the identification of reimbursable meals at the POS, • nutrition, health and food safety, • any other topics designated by FNS

20. Poll! Agree Neutral Disagree

21. How SNA Can Help • SNA’s Governing Council will be proactive in ensuring that its Certification / Credentialing programs meet the requirements as specified by the USDA professional standards; • Any changes would be subject to the date of implementation of the proposed Professional Standards; and • SNA is working with the USDA to provide informational webinars that can provide further clarity on the interpretation of the requirements

22. Questions?