Michigan Ag Connection - Michigan Requests USDA Administrative Review Cycle Waiver

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Michigan Requests USDA Administrative Review Cycle Waiver
Michigan Ag Connection - 08/15/2019

Michigan is requesting a waiver that would extend to five years its review of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) school meals programs, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) announced today.

The waiver, if approved by the USDA, adds two years to the three-year review cycle of the department's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) program. The additional two years will include all sponsors who utilize Food Service Management Company (FSMC) and Vended School Meal Company (VSMC) contracts.

In School Year 2013-2014, the FNS introduced a unified Administrative Review and shortened its review cycle from five to three years (7 CFR 210.18). Since then, however, FNS has received feedback about issues with the shorter cycle experienced by state agencies doing the reviews and by School Food Authorities (SFAs) responding to reviews. States are required to review all National School Lunch Program (NSLP) sponsors.

Michigan is requesting a waiver to lighten the SFA burden and improve customer service to SFAs.

View USDA Memorandum Flexibility for Administrative Review Cycle Requirement at fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/cn/SP12-2019os.pdf.

MDE will request the following changes to the Administrative Review cycle requirements: Cycle 2 will have an additional two years added to increase from a three-year Administrative Review cycle to a five-year Administrative Review cycle.

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