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Resource | Technical Assistance Guide to Professional Standards for School Nutrition Programs

A central resource outlining the USDA Professional Standards requirements for state and local school nutrition professionals.

12/07/2020
Resource | Policy Memos Questions & Answers Regarding Professional Standards for State and Local School Nutrition Program Personnel

This Q&A memorandum is designed to provide an overview of the policies related to the Professional Standards regulations for state and local school nutrition program personnel. 

01/14/2020
Resource | Technical Assistance Professional Standards for School Nutrition Professionals

Professional Standards for school nutrition professionals is a key provision of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The final rule, published March 2, 2015, requires a minimum amount of annual training hours for all state directors of school nutrition programs, state director of distributing agencies, school nutrition program directors, managers, and staff.

09/08/2019
Resource | Webinars/Videos SNAP at Farmers Markets: Incentives

 This webinar will focus on what markets and their partners need to know about incentives, different types of incentives they could offer, and what they would need to do to introduce an Incentive program at their market.

04/05/2019
Resource | Final Rule Final Rule: Hiring Flexibility under Professional Standards

This final rule adds four flexibilities to the hiring standards for new school nutrition program directors in small local educational agencies and new state directors of school nutrition programs under the Professional Standards regulations for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

03/01/2019
Basic page Professional Standards Learning Objectives & Training Topics

The professional standards learning objectives are a resource for school nutrition professionals and trainers.

02/10/2019
Resource | Proposed Rule Proposed Rule: Hiring Flexibility Under Professional Standards

This proposed rule would add four flexibilities to the hiring standards for new school nutrition program directors in small local educational agencies and new school nutrition program state directors under the professional standards regulations for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.

03/06/2018
Resource | Webinars/Videos SNAP at Farmers Markets: Incentives

This webinar will focus on what markets and their partners need to know about incentives, different types of incentives they could offer, and what they would need to do to introduce an incentive program at their market.

08/01/2017
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Special Nutrition Program Operations Study, SY 2013-14

The Special Nutrition Program Operations Study is a multiyear study designed to provide the Food and Nutrition Service with a snapshot of current state and school food authority policies and practices of the school meal programs, including information on school meal standards, competitive foods standards, professional standards, school lunch pricing and accounting, and Smarter Lunchrooms activities. 

10/31/2016
Resource | Research and Data | Benefit Content/Cost WIC Food Package Policy Options II

In 2007, USDA introduced a new set of food packages via an Interim Rule based on recommendations from the Institute of Medicine, which were implemented by October 2009. The contents of the food packages were finalized via a Final Rule in 2014. The Final Rule clarified some provisions in the Interim Rule and allowed some additional options and substitutions.

10/29/2015
Page updated: October 14, 2021