WHOLE GRAIN-RICH PRODUCT AND MILK EXEMPTION REQUEST

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Jean Norman
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1 100 North First Street, W-270 Springfield, Illinois WHOLE GRAIN-RICH PRODUCT AND MILK EXEMPTION REQUEST NUTRITION AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS DIVISION In accordance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) memo SP the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is offering exemptions from the Whole Grain-Rich (WGR) requirements and flavored milk requirements in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) for School Year Exemption requests for specific WGR products can be requested if the School Food Authority (SFA) can demonstrate with documentation hardship(s) in: Procurement of the specific whole grain-rich product or Preparation of the specific whole grain-rich product or Student acceptability of the specific whole grain-rich product *Applicable hardships not listed above can be discussed with ISBE Staff by ing with a description of the hardship along with documentation. The temporary exemptions are allowed for any type of grain product(s) such as pasta, bread, brown rice, etc. and may be granted by the State agency based on documentation or written justification. SFA s that receive an exemption are considered compliant with the whole grain-rich requirements during an Administrative Review or a performance-based certification review if the following requirements are met: the grain offerings are consistent with the specific product exemptions that were approved by the State agency (ex. if an exemption is approved for brown rice, that exemption is only good for brown rice) AND that the SFA is in compliance with the SY requirements that at least half of the grains offered over the week must be whole grain-rich AND all non-whole grain-rich products must be enriched. SFA s that Contract for Food Service Due to a possible decrease in food costs by switching to non-whole grain-rich products, the State Agency encourages SFA s to renegotiate their contracts. If there is a change to the per meal price in the current contract then an amendment must be signed by both parties and submitted to ISBE. Procurement All new products that the SFA will procure MUST follow proper procurement procedures. For SFA s that have already completed their procurement process for SY17-18, they must still properly procure any new products. Click here for more information on procurement. What types of documentation are acceptable? Production records indicating a decrease in student participation tied to specific whole grain-rich products. This would need to be a comparison to prior to the whole grain-rich product(s) being served to current with the whole grain-rich product being served. Procurement documentation indicating that specific whole grain-rich products are not available. Student surveys of specific whole grain-rich products

2 If the SFA meets all of the requirements above, an exemption can be requested by completing the attached form for each product and the SFA must provide documentation of the hardship for each product. Until your SFA has received an approved exemption, whole grain-rich products must continue to be served to meet meal pattern requirements. Remember! The whole grain-rich exemption does not apply to smart snacks; foods that are not part of the reimbursable meal. Grain products served a la carte, as seconds, in vending machines, through fundraisers, or any other venue that sells to students during the school day must still be whole grain-rich or a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup of fruit and/or vegetable. Incomplete exemption requests will not be considered. Complete requests must include: 1. For both the WGR and Flavored Milk Exemptions: Completed Exemption Request- SFA Information (page 3), which is signed by the Authorized Representative (Public Schools = District Superintendent, Non-Public = Individual listed on the Entity Profile System record as legally and financially responsible for the school. A listing of Authorized Representatives can be found at: 2. For the Whole Grain-Rich Exemption: A SFA Form and Completed WGR Product Exemption Request Form(s) Page 4 of this document. Include one Product Exemption Request form for each Product that you are requesting an exemption for, along with documentation of the hardship for each product. 3. For the Flavored Milk Exemption: A SFA Form and Completed Flavored Milk Exemption form (page 5) along with documentation of the hardship must be submitted. 4. Submit all forms and documentation to cnp@isbe.net

3 EXEMPTION REQUEST SFA INFORMATION Please check the appropriate box: Self-Operated Food Service Management Company Contract Vended Contract School to School Agreement Requesting an Exemption for: All sites in the SFA Some Sites in the SFA If the request is only for SOME sites in the SFA please provide a list of the sites with site numbers: The undersigned has the authority to attest that the SFA and all schools under its jurisdiction operating the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program will, if approved, adhere to all of the requirements specified within this document and in USDA Memo SP and SP The SFA understands that this exemption is only applicable from approval date until June 30, Specific to the whole grain-rich exemption, SFA s must comply with SY13-14 requirements to offer at least half of the grains as whole grain-rich, that the WGR exemption is not applicable to non-program foods/smart Snacks and that the SA retains the right to withdraw the approval and/or determine fiscal action if non-compliance is found. The individual signing below certifies that all information provided on this form and all documentation is complete and accurate. Name of Authorized Representative Original Signature of Authorized Representative Date

4 WGR PRODUCT EXEMPTION REQUEST FORM Complete a separate Product Exemption Request form for each type of product. NAME OF PRODUCT: Reason for Requesting Flexibility (check all that apply and that you have documentation of) Hardship in Procuring Hardship in Preparing Hardship with Student Acceptability Check the type of documentation that you are providing with this request Production Records/Meal Counts Written description of difficulties with preparation of the whole grain-rich product vs. the non-whole grain-rich product. Student Survey and/or Taste Test information and results Other (provide short description of type of documentation and then attach the documentation to this form): ISBE USE ONLY Exemption Request Forms Complete: Yes No Documentation Provided: Yes No Approved Denied Date: SA Staff Initials:

5 FLAVORED MILK EXEMPTION REQUEST FORM Complete this form to request to serve low-fat (1-percent milk fat), flavored milk in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and as an a la carte beverage available for sale on campus during the school day. In order to qualify for this exemption, the School Food Authority (SFA) must demonstrate hardship by documenting either: A reduction in student milk consumption OR An increase in school milk waste Reason for Requesting Flexibility (check all that apply and that you have documentation of) Reduction in Student Milk Consumption Increase in School Milk Waste Mark the type of documentation that you are providing with this request Documentation of milk sales from prior to current milk requirements to now Food Waste Student indicating significant waste of fluid milk in particular Other (provide short description of type of documentation and then attach the documentation to this form): ISBE USE ONLY Exemption Request Forms Complete: Yes No Documentation Provided: Yes No Approved Denied Date: SA Staff Initials:

Administrative Reviews and Certification for Performance-Based Reimbursement in School Year (SY)

United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service DATE: July 11, 2014 MEMO CODE: SP 54-2014 3101 Park Center Drive Alexandria, VA 22302-1500 SUBJECT: TO: Administrative Reviews and Certification