This memorandum provides information regarding the updated School Meal Programs Administrative Review Manual for School Year 2018-2019. In previous years, all AR materials have been updated annually. This school year updates to the AR process were only made in areas regarding the Fiscal Action process and Resource Management.

This memo provides SY 2016-17 reporting guidance for the FNS-640 report. The FNS-640 report form is scheduled to be available in the Food Programs Reporting System in January 2018. The attached revised instructions and business rules/edit checks supersede the instructions that were released with memorandum SP 25-2017, FNS-640: Administrative Review Report Form and Instructions.

FNS recently released the new Administrative Review Guidance Manual, which includes four options that state agencies may use to assess compliance with Dietary Specifications – calories, saturated fat, and sodium – requirements. 

This final rule implements several nondiscretionary provisions of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, including those related to categorical eligibility for foster children, removal of limits on private nonprofit sponsors, outreach to eligible families, simplification of area eligibility for day care homes, application of school food safety requirements, and permanent agreements for institutions and sponsors.