State Agencies (CN and SFA Directors)

Appendix C.1 State Child Nutrition Director Survey

OMB Number: 0584-0607

Expiration Date: MM/DD/YYYY

Child Nutrition Program Operations Study-II

CN-OPS-II

State Child Nutrition Director

Survey 2018-2019

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY

Please complete the survey at:

http://www.2mresearch.com/cnops2state

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0584-0607. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 2 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services, Office of Policy Support, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 22302, ATTN: PRA (0584-0607). Do not return the completed form to this address.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Food and Nutrition Service

This survey is being conducted for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service as part of a study of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and other USDA food programs throughout the country. All responses will be treated in strict privacy; no names will be used in our reports, and only aggregated results will be reported.

The study is authorized by the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) and cooperation by selected States, local education agencies, and schools is encouraged under Section 305 of the HHFKA. Section 305 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 states that “States, State educational agencies, local educational agencies, schools, institutions, facilities, and contractors participating in programs authorized under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) shall cooperate with officials and contractors acting on behalf of the Secretary, in the conduct of evaluations and studies under those Acts.”

The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 120 minutes [or 2 hours] per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

Send comments regarding this burden estimate (2 hours) or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food and Nutrition Service
Office of Policy Support
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014
Alexandria, VA 22302
Attn: Holly Figueroa

If you have any questions about completing this survey, please email [email protected] or call toll-free at 844.503.7045. Do not return the completed form to this address.

We thank you for your cooperation and participation in this very important study.

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Contact Information

Before starting the survey please fill in the requested contact information below. If the information below is prefilled please review and update the information as necessary.

Please fill in the contact information for the Child Nutrition Director below:

First Name:

Last Name:

Street Address 1:

Street Address 2:

City:

State:

Zip:

Phone Number: Ext.

Email:

If you are not the Child Nutrition Director please fill out your name and contact information:

First Name:

Last Name:

Title:

Street Address 1:

Street Address 2:

City:

State:

Zip:

Phone Number: Ext.

Email:

1. SCHOOL NUTRITION SERVICE ADMINISTRATION

The first few questions are about school food authorities (SFAs) and schools operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) and special provisions in the 2018-2019 school year.

We understand that you may have been asked to provide similar information to the USDA, however, providing this information in the current survey is very important because it will help improve the accuracy of this study’s analysis. We thank you in advance for your understanding and the time you put into answering these questions.

NEW

1.1. Please provide the number of public schools, including charter schools, in your State that are operating both NSLP and SBP, NSLP only, SBP only, or neither NSLP or SBP.

IF NONE, PLEASE ENTER 0.

	Number of Schools
a. Number of schools operating both NSLP and SBP
b. Number of schools operating NSLP only
c. Number of schools operating SBP only
d. Number of schools operating neither NSLP or SBP
TOTAL

The next few questions are about the number of public charter schools in your State and challenges related to school nutrition administration in public charter schools and residential child care institutions (RCCIs).

1.2 Does your State have any public charter schools?

CNOPS-II Year 2&3

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO 1.11

1.3 How many public charter schools are currently operating in your State?

CNOPS-II Year 2&3

charter schools

NEW

1.4 How many individual, public charter schools are currently operating as their own SFA in your State?

charter schools

NEW

1.5 How many individual, public charter schools are currently operating as part of another SFA in your State?

charter schools

CNOPS-II Year 2&3

1.6 How many of the [FILL NUMBER FROM 1.3] public charter schools currently participate in both NSLP and SBP?

IF NONE, PLEASE ENTER 0.

charter schools participating in both nslp and sbp

CNOPS-II Year 2&3

1.7 How many of the [FILL NUMBER FROM 1.3] public charter schools currently participate in NSLP only?

IF NONE, PLEASE ENTER 0.

charter schools participating in nslp only

CNOPS-II Year 2&3

1.8 How many of the [FILL NUMBER FROM 1.3] public charter schools currently participate in SBP only?

IF NONE, PLEASE ENTER 0.

charter schools participating in sbp only

NEW

1.9 What is the State agency doing to inform non-participating public charter schools about NSLP and/or SBP?

SELECT ALL THAT APPLY

 Mass Mailings 1

 Newsletters 2

 Social Media 3

 Partnering with local agencies 4

 Encouraging local SFAs to reach out 5

 Contacting Charter Management Organizations in your State. 6

 Working with State agency that oversees charter schools to conduct outreach 7

 There is no State agency outreach to non-participating charter schools 0

 Other (Specify) 99

Specify (STRING (NUM))

NEW

1.10 What are the top challenges that public charter schools experience with Child Nutrition Program administration?

SELECT ALL THAT APPLY

 Administrative review process is challenging 1

 Challenging to comply with procurement regulations 2

 Consider NSLP/SBP rules burdensome 3

 Inadequate/lack of Child Nutrition service facilities 4

 Inadequate/ lack of training 5

 Lack of qualified staff or dedicated staff positions to manage the meal service 6

 Lack of sources for vended meals 7

 Lack of vendors that can comply with school nutrition requirements 8

 Low student participation 9

 Meeting different nutrition standards for different Child Nutrition Programs (for example, NSLP and CACFP) 10

 Not sure how to get started 11

 Reporting requirements are burdensome 12

 No challenges 0

 Other 99

Specify (STRING (NUM))

The following questions ask about challenges related to school nutrition administration in RCCIs.

1.11 Does your State have RCCIs that participate in NSLP or SBP?

NEW

 Yes. 1

 No 0 SKIP TO 1.13

NEW

1.12 What are the top challenges that RCCIs experience with Child Nutrition Program administration?

SELECT ALL THAT APPLY

 Administrative review process is challenging 1

 Challenging to comply with procurement regulations 2

 Consider NSLP/SBP rules burdensome 3

 Inadequate/lack of Child Nutrition service facilities 4

 Inadequate/ lack of training 5

 Lack of qualified staff or dedicated staff positions to manage the meal service 6

 Lack of sources for vended meals 7

 Lack of vendors that can comply with school nutrition requirements 8

 Meeting different nutrition standards for different Child Nutrition Programs (for example, NSLP and CACFP) 9

 Not sure how to get started 10

 Operating Child Nutrition Programs in a non-school setting 11

 Reporting requirements are burdensome 12

 No challenges 0

 Other 99

Specify (STRING (NUM))

NEW

1.13 Do public non-charter SFAs generally have more, less, or roughly equal amounts of administrative review findings compared to the other school types listed below?

PROGRAMMER: ONLY DISPLAY 1.13A IF SUM1.6-1.8>0, ONLY DISPLAY 1.13B IF 1.11=YES.

	Select one per row
	PUBLIC NON-CHARTER SFAS HAVE MORE FINDINGS	PUBLIC NON-CHARTER SFAS HAVE LESS FINDINGS	PUBLIC NON-CHARTER SFAS HAVE ROUGHLY EQUAL AMOUNT OF FINDINGS
a. Charter schools	1 	2 	3 
b. Residential child care institutions	1 	2 	3 
c. Private SFAs	1 	2 	3 

The following questions are about collecting, retrieving and preparing school-level data.

NEW

1.14 Does your State agency routinely collect Information about each school regarding:

	Select one per row
	YES	NO
a. Use of food service management companies (FSMCs)?	1 	0 
b. Use of special provisions (such as Provision 2 or 3 or CEP)?	1 	0 
c. Participation in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)?	1 	0 
d. Participation in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)?	1 	0 
e. Participation in the Seamless Summer Option (SSO)?	1 	0 
f. Participation in the CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Meals component?	1 	0 
g. Meal reimbursement claims data?	1 	0 

1.15 On a scale of 1 to 4, where 1 is very burdensome and 4 is not at all burdensome, how burdensome is it to retrieve and prepare the following school-level data for sharing?

NEW

PROGRAMMER: DISPLAY ONLY ITEMS WHERE 1.14=YES

	Select one per row
	VERY BURDENSOME 1	BURDENSOME 2	A LITTLE BURDENSOME 3	NOT AT ALL BURDENSOME 4
Use of FSMCs	1 	2 	3 	4 
b. Use of special provisions	1 	2 	3 	4 
c. Participation in the FFVP	1 	2 	3 	4 
d. Participation in the SFSP	1 	2 	3 	4 
e. Participation in the SSO	1 	2 	3 	4 
f. Participation in the in the CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Meals component	1 	2 	3 	4 
g. Meal reimbursement claims data	1 	2 	3 	4 

2. SUBSIDIES, RESOURCES, AND FUNDING

The following questions are about the subsidies and support your State provides to SFAs in SY 2018-19.

CNOPS-II Year 2&3

2.1 Did your State provide subsidies to SFAs (in addition to Federal reimbursements) for breakfasts in SY 2018‑19?

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO 2.3

2.2 Which of the following subsidies did your State provide to SFAs for breakfasts in SY 2018‑19?

CNOPS-II Year 2&3

select ALL THAT APPLY

 Per-meal reimbursement based on the number of free meals 1

 Per-meal reimbursement based on the number of reduced price meals 2

 Per-meal reimbursement based on the number of paid meals 3

• Annual lump sum 4

 Supplement to cover specific costs 5

 Amount based on a percentage of low-income students 6

 Other (Specify) 99

Specify (STRING (NUM))

2.3 Did your State provide subsidies to SFAs (in addition to Federal reimbursements) for lunches in SY 2018‑19?

CNOPS-II Year 2&3

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO 2.5

2.4 Which of the following subsidies did your State provide to SFAs for lunches in SY 2018‑19?

CNOPS-II Year 2&3

select ALL THAT APPLY

 Per-meal reimbursement based on the number of free meals 1

 Per-meal reimbursement based on the number of reduced price meals 2

 Per-meal reimbursement based on the number of paid meals 3

 Annual lump sum 4

 Supplement to cover specific costs 5

 Amount based on a percentage of low-income students 6

 Other (Specify) 99

Specify (STRING (NUM))

CNOPS-II Year 2

2.5 Has your State provided financial or personnel support to SFAs for any of the following school nutrition service operations in SY 2018‑19?

	Select one per row
	YES	NO
a. Preparation of reimbursable meals	1 	0 
b. Preparation of non-reimbursable meals	1 	0 
c. Equipment	1 	0 
d. Preparing claims	1 	0 
e. Storage	1 	0 
f. Contracted services	1 	0 
g. Overhead/indirect costs	1 	0 
h. Other (Specify)	1 	0 
(STRING (NUM))

The following questions are about State Administrative Expense (SAE) funds your State received during Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 (October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018). SAE funds are Federal funds that USDA provides to State agencies to administer the Child Nutrition Programs.

CNOPS-II Year 2

2.6 Did any of the following pose challenges to your State’s ability to fully obligate all FY 2018 SAE funds?

	Select one per row
	YES	NO
a. State policy	1 	0 
b. Governor’s mandates	1 	0 
c. State legislation	1 	0 
d. Union agreements	1 	0 
e. Hiring freezes	1 	0 
f. Work furloughs	1 	0 
g. Travel restrictions	1 	0 
h. Work shutdowns	1 	0 
i. Other (Specify)	1 	0 
(STRING (NUM))

The following questions ask about State-enacted budget cuts for Child Nutrition operations.

NEW

2.7 Does your State’s Child Nutrition budget include funding for Child Nutrition in addition to Federal funding? Examples of Child Nutrition budget funding include additional per meal reimbursements, State grants, and in-kind contributions like office space and computer access.

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO 2.10

NEW

2.8 Has your State enacted budget cuts in the last two years that have affected Child Nutrition operations?

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO 2.10

2.9 What strategies did you adopt to make up for State budget cuts?

NEW

Select all that apply

 Direct SFAs to reduce program operating days or hours 1

 Use contractors to carry out some State Child Nutrition operations 2

 Reduce State employee hours or lay off employees 3

 Seek grant funding from Federal or private nonprofit sources 4

 Reduce State-provided or other non-Federal meal subsidies to SFAs 5

 Did not adopt strategies 0

 Other (Specify) 99

Specify (STRING (NUM))

NEW

2.10 Have any SFAs in your State reduced the number of operating days or hours for the following programs? (For example, moving to a 4-day school week for students.) Please contact staff at other agencies as necessary to answer for all programs that operate in your State.

	Select one per row
	YES	NO	NOT APPLICABLE
a. NSLP	1 	0 	N 
b. SBP	1 	0 	N 
c. CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Meals component	1 	0 	N 
d. SFSP	1 	0 	N 
e. SSO	1 	0 	N 

CNOPS-II Year 2&3- edited

2.11 Does your State agency have adequate staff to monitor school meal operations in SY 2018‑19?

 Yes 1

 No 0

2.12 Has your State used contracted staff for any of the following functions in SY 2018‑19?

CNOPS-II Year 2&3	Select one per row
	YES	NO
a. Training/technical assistance	1 	0 
b. Monitoring	1 	0 
c. Nutrition education	1 	0 
d. 6-cents certification	1 	0 
e. Nutrient analyses	1 	0 
f. Claims processing	1 	0 
g. Other (Specify)	1 	0 
(STRING (NUM))

2.13 [ASK IF 2.12 a-g=0] Why has your State not used any contracted staff in SY 2018-2019?

NEW

All SFAs operating NSLP and SBP must have a written meal charge policy addressing situations where children not certified to receive free meals do not have money to cover the cost of the meal at the time of the meal service. Some State agencies have developed a meal charge policy to be implemented for all SFAs operating the NSLP and SBP throughout the State.

CNOPS-II Year 3

2.14 Does your State have a statewide meal charge policy that must be implemented for all SFAs operating NSLP and/or SBP?

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO 3.1

CNOPS-II Year 3

2.15 What type of statewide meal charge policies are currently in place in your State?

SELECT ALL THAT APPLY

 Students unable to pay are allowed to charge regular, reimbursable meals (breakfast, lunch, and/or afterschool snacks) 1

 Students unable to pay receive an alternate meal (e.g., a cheese sandwich) 2

 Students unable to pay have a limit on the number of meals they can charge 3

 Students unable to pay are denied a meal 4

 Households are encouraged to apply for free or reduced price school meals when their student is unable to pay 5

 Households are notified of low or negative balances (e.g., phone calls, text messages, and/or notes sent home) 6

 Other (Specify) 99

Specify (STRING (NUM))

CNOPS-II Year 3

2.16 Does your State offer technical assistance to SFAs to support implementation of the State meal charge policy?

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO 3.1

CNOPS-II Year 3

2.17 What technical assistance information on unpaid meal charges does your State share with SFAs?

SELECT ALL THAT APPLY

 FNS policy guidance 1

 Best practices resources developed by FNS 2

 Best practices resources developed by your State 3

 Best practices resources developed by other States 4

 Best practices resources developed by other institutions (for example, School Nutrition Association or Institute of Child Nutrition) 5

 Other (Specify) 99

Specify (STRING (NUM))

CNOPS-II Year 3

2.18 What methods are used to provide technical assistance to SFAs on unpaid meal charges?

SELECT ALL THAT APPLY

 Online documents and resources 1

 Handbooks / guides 2

 In-person presentations 3

 Webinar presentations 4

 Phone or email communications 5

 Other (Specify) 99

Specify (STRING (NUM))

3. BUY AMERICAN

The Buy American provision requires SFAs to purchase, to the maximum extent practicable, domestic commodities or products. A domestic commodity or product is defined as an agricultural commodity that is produced in the United States or a food product that is processed in the United States substantially using agricultural commodities produced in the United States.

CNOPS-II Year 3

3.1 Does your State have a policy on the Buy American provision? State policies may be identical to the Federal policy or may include Federal and/or State-specific policy components.

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO 3.5

CNOPS-II Year 3-edited

3.2 What components are described in your State’s Buy American policy?

SELECT ALL THAT APPLY

 Buy American provision requirement to procure domestic commodities or products 1

 Definition of a domestic commodity or product 2

 Criteria for SFAs to determine exceptions to the Buy American provision 3

 Requirement for SFAs to document the Buy American provision in procurement solicitations, contracts, document prototypes, and/or procedures 4

 Encouragement for SFAs to procure domestic foods from local, regional, small, women-owned, and/or minority-owned businesses 5

 Encouragement for SFAs to order USDA Foods 6

 State procurement reviews to ensure SFA compliance with the Buy American provision 7

 Other (Specify) 99

Specify (STRING (NUM))

CNOPS-II Year 3-edited

3.3 Does your State provide guidance to SFAs on the following policy components?

	Select one per row
	YES	NO
a. Buy American provision requirement to procure domestic commodities or products	1 	0 
b. Definition of a domestic commodity or product	1 	0 
c. Criteria for SFAs to determine exceptions to the Buy American provision	1 	0 
d. Requirement for SFAs to document the Buy American provision in all procurement solicitations, contracts, document prototypes, and/or procedures	1 	0 
e. Encouragement for SFAs to procure domestic foods from local, regional, small, women-owned, and/or minority-owned businesses	1 	0 
f. Encouragement for SFAs to order USDA Foods	1 	0 
g. State procurement reviews to ensure SFA compliance with the Buy American provision	1 	0 
h. Other (Specify)	1 	0 
(STRING (NUM))

3.4 What methods are used to share guidance on your State’s Buy American policy with SFAs?

CNOPS-II Year 3

SELECT ALL THAT APPLY

 Online documents and resources 1

 Handbooks / guides 2

 In-person presentations 3

 Webinar presentations 4

 Phone or email communications 5

 None - State does not provide guidance to SFAs on Buy American policy 0

 Other (Specify) 99

Specify (STRING (NUM))

CNOPS-II Year 3

3.5 How does your State agency ensure SFA compliance with the Buy American provision? For each compliance review activity, please indicate the type of review your State uses to check compliance.

	Select all that apply per row or ’Compliance Not Checked’
Compliance review activity	DURING ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW	DURING PROCUREMENT REVIEW	DURING OTHER REVIEW	COMPLIANCE NOT CHECKED
a. Check that SFAs are purchasing domestic commodities/products	1 	2 	3 	4 
b. Check that contract solicitations contain Buy American language	1 	2 	3 	4 
c. Check that contracts contain Buy American language	1 	2 	3 	4 
d. Check that supplier invoices or receipts show that solicited domestic commodities/products were provided by the contractor	1 	2 	3 	4 
e. Look at food product labels in SFA storage facilities	1 	2 	3 	4 
f. Share sample Buy American language that SFAs can use in solicitations, contracts, and other documents	1 	2 	3 	4 
g. Other (Specify)	1 	2 	3 	4 
(STRING (NUM))

Exceptions to the Buy American provision are allowed when the use of domestic foods is not practical. That is, domestic foods are in inadequate supply, low quality, or substantially higher in price than non-domestic foods.

CNOPS-II Year 3

3.6 Are SFAs required to document (that is, track and maintain supporting documents for) any of the following types of information to show why an exception to the Buy American provision is used?

	Select one per row
	YES	NO
a. The domestic food product is in inadequate supply	1 	0
b. The domestic food product is low quality	1 	0
c. The domestic food product is substantially higher in price than the non-domestic food product counterpart	1 	0
d. Alternative domestic food product options were researched and considered	1 	0
e. The domestic food product availability or pricing was verified using a third-party verification (for example, the Agricultural Marketing Service report)	1 	0
f. Other (Specify)	1 	0
(STRING (NUM))

CNOPS-II Year 3

3.7 Does your State provide SFAs with guidance and/or a reporting template for documenting exceptions to the Buy American provision?

	Select one per row
	YES	NO
a. Our State provides SFAs with guidance	1 	0
b. Our State provides SFAs with a reporting template	1 	0

4. SFA PROCUREMENT PRACTICES

The following questions are about food service management companies (FSMCs), review of contracts for group purchasing efforts, and the use of prototype procurement documents or models.

SNOPS-Year 3 edited/ CNOPS-II Year 2

4.1 In your State, how many public SFAs, including charters, are using FSMCs?

IF NONE, PLEASE ENTER 0.

SFAs

If 4.1=0 OR MISSING, SKIP TO 4.5.

SNOPS-Year 3 edited/ CNOPS-II Year 2

4.2 How many of these SFAs are using one of the following national FSMCs (that is, operating within states from several regions)?

IF NONE, PLEASE ENTER 0.

	SFAS
a. Aramark
b. Chartwells
c. Preferred Meal Systems
d. Sodexo
e. Other national FSMC (Specify)
(STRING (NUM))
f. Other national FSMC (Specify)
(STRING (NUM))

SNOPS-Year 3 edited/ CNOPS-II Year 2

4.3 How many SFAs are using regional FSMCs (that is, operating within states from a single region)?

IF NONE, PLEASE ENTER 0.

SFAs

SNOPS-Year 3 edited/ CNOPS-II Year 2

4.4 How many SFAs are using local FSMCs (that is, operating only within your State)?

IF NONE, PLEASE ENTER 0.

SFAs

SNOPS-Year 3 edited/ CNOPS-II Year 2- edited

4.5 Please indicate whether your State reviews all, some, or none of the SFA contracts for each category listed in the table below.

	Select one per row
	ALL	SOME	NONE	N/A
a. Cooperative Purchasing Agreements (consists of SFAs only)	1 	2 	3 	n 
b. Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) (for a group with SFAs and a third party provider)	1 	2 	3 	n 

SNOPS-Year 3 edited/ CNOPS-II Year 2

4.6 In the table below, please indicate under which circumstances your State reviews SFA contracts prior to their execution.

	Select all that apply
	CONTRACT TYPE
	COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENTS	GPOs
a. Dollar value of contract	1 	2 
b. SFA history	1 	2 
c. New vendor	1 	2 
d. New co-op or GPO	1 	2 
e. Length of contract term	1 	2 
f. Potential co-op size	1 	2 
g. Cost provisions (for example, cost-reimbursable, fixed-price contracts)	1 	2 
h. Scope of services, including changes in programs operated	1 	2 
i. Replacement, improvement, or investment in equipment	1 	2 
j. Reporting requirements in the contract	1 	2 
k. Other method (Specify)	1 	2 
(STRING (NUM))

CNOPS-II Year 2

4.7 How often does your State review SFA FSMC contracts that include the procurement of goods and services for meals provided under the SBP, NSLP, CACFP, and/or SFSP? Examples of goods and services include food, equipment, and supplies purchased for the production of meals.

SELECT ONE ONLY

 More than once a year 1

 Once a year 2

 Less than once a year 3

 Never 4

SNOPS-Year 3 edited/ CNOPS-II Year 2

4.8 Does your State have a prototype procurement document or model contract that SFAs can use for FSMC contracts?

SELECT ONE ONLY

 Yes, and use is required under all circumstances 1

 Yes, and use is required under some circumstances 2

 Yes, but use is not required 3

 No 0

SNOPS-Year 3 edited/ CNOPS-II Year 2-edited

4.9 Does your State have a prototype procurement document or model solicitation that SFAs can use for small purchases? The Federal small purchases threshold is $250,000, although your State’s threshold may be lower.

SELECT ONE ONLY

 Yes, and use is required under all circumstances 1

 Yes, and use is required under some circumstances 2

 Yes, but use is not required 3

 No 0

5. PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

The following items ask about training topics provided by your State agency. The topics are based on the Professional Standards Learning Objectives in four key areas. The subtopics covered in each of the key areas are described here (https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/cn/ps_learningobjectives.pdf).

CNOPS-II Year 1 - edited

5.1 For each of the following topic areas, did your State agency provide (or do you have plans to provide) any training or technical assistance to SFAs in the 2018-19 school year? Please include training or technical assistance offered by your State agency and non-State agency providers.

	Select one per row
	YES	NO
Nutrition:
Nutrition education	1 	0
General nutrition	1 	0
Meal pattern requirements	1 	0
Menu planning (other than meal pattern requirements)	1 	0
Operations:
Food production	1 	0
Serving food	1 	0
Cashier and point-of-service	1 	0
Receiving and storage	1 	0
Food safety	1 	0
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)	1 	0
Administration:
Free and reduced-price meal benefits	1 	0
Program management	1 	0
Financial management	1 	0
Human resources or staff training	1 	0
Facilities and equipment planning	1 	0
Procurement:
Product specifications	1 	0
Bid or proposal solicitation or evaluation	1 	0
Cooperative purchasing groups	1 	0
Contracts with FSMCs	1 	0
Buy American	1 	0
Purchasing of food, supplies, and equipment	1 	0
Communications or marketing (including but not limited to customer service)	1 	0
Meal charge policies	1 	0
Use of the USDA Child Nutrition Program’s Professional Standards Training Tracker Tool (PSTTT) Version 2.0	1 	0
Other (Specify)	1 	0

5.2 For each of the topic areas for which your State agency provided (or plans to provide) training or technical assistance, who was (or will be) responsible for providing the training or technical assistance to SFAs? [FOR HARDCOPY ONLY: If your State agency did not provide training on a topic, please select “training or technical assistance was not provided.”]

PROGRAMMER: ONLY DISPLAY ITEMS WHERE 5.1=YES. DO NOT DISPLAY RESPONSE OPTION N IN WEB.

	WHO PROVIDED TRAINING OR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE?
	Select all that apply
Nutrition:
a. Nutrition education	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
b. General nutrition	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
c. Meal pattern requirements	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
d. Menu planning (other than meal pattern requirements)	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
Operations:
e. Food production	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
f. Serving food	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
g. Cashier and point-of-service	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
h. Receiving and storage	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
i. Food safety	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
j. HACCP	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
Administration:
k. Free and reduced-price meal benefits	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
l. Program management	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
m. Financial management	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
n. Human resources or staff training	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
o. Facilities and equipment planning	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
Procurement:
p. Product specifications	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
q. Bid or proposal solicitation or evaluation	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
r. Cooperative purchasing groups	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
s. Contracts with FSMCs	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
t. Buy American	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
u. Purchasing of food, supplies, and equipment	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
v. Communications or marketing (including but not limited to customer service)	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
w. Meal charge policies	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
x. Use of the USDA Child Nutrition Program’s PSTTT Version 2.0	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided
y. Other (Specify)	1 □ State Director 2 □ State agency staff 3 □ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) 4 □ Education contractor or subject matter expert 99 □ Other (Specify) n □ Training or technical assistance was not provided

NEW

5.3 How did your State agency select training topics for the 2018-19 school year?

select ALL THAT APPLY

 Issues identified in administrative reviews 1

 SFA staff requests for training and technical assistance 2

 New USDA guidance was recently provided 3

 New State Child Nutrition guidance was recently provided 4

 Trainings that were helpful/successful in previous years 5

 Rotated through training topics on a cyclical schedule 6

 Other (Specify) 99

Specify (STRING (NUM))

The next questions ask about challenges public charter schools, RCCIs, and rural SFAs face in meeting professional standards.

IF 1.6, 1.7, AND 1.8= 0, SKIP TO 5.6.

NEW

5.4 Which of the following challenges do public charter schools in your State face related to meeting the professional training and continuing education (CE) standards?

	Select one per row
	YES	NO
a. Identifying training/CE needed by SFA personnel	1 	0 
b. SFA personnel lack time to attend training	1 	0 
c. Non-SFA personnel and/or volunteers do not attend training	1 	0 
d. Insufficient technology (for example, lack internet access or software)	1 	0 
e. SFA personnel do not find training useful or relevant	1 	0 
f. Tracking training/ CE (for example, unclear what training counts toward requirements or lack tracking system)	1 	0 
g. Training not applicable (for example, existing trainings may not address specific needs of charter schools)	1 	0 
h. Cost (for example, trainings, travel, or hourly wage may be cost-prohibitive)	1 	0 
i. Do not understand or prioritize training and CE standards	1 	0 
i. Other (Specify)	1 	0 
(STRING (NUM))

NEW

5.5 Which of the following challenges do public charter schools in your State face in meeting the professional standards hiring requirements?

	Select one per row
	YES	NO
a. Difficult to recruit or hire qualified applicants with minimum education required	1 	0 
b. Difficult to recruit or hire qualified applicants with minimum amount of experience	1 	0 
c. Difficult to recruit or hire qualified applicants with the right type of experience for charter schools	1 	0 
d. Do not understand or prioritize hiring standards	1 	0 
e. Unable to retain personnel who meet hiring standards	1 	0 
f. Other (Specify)	1 	0 
(STRING (NUM))

IF 1.11=No, SKIP TO 5.8.

NEW

5.6 Which of the following challenges do RCCIs that participate in NSLP or SBP in your State face related to meeting the professional training and CE standards?

	Select one per row
	YES	NO
a. Identifying training/CE needed by SFA personnel	1 	0 
b. SFA personnel lack time to attend training	1 	0 
c. Non-SFA personnel and/or volunteers do not attend training	1 	0 
d. Insufficient technology (for example, lack internet access or software)	1 	0 
e. SFA personnel do not find training useful or relevant	1 	0 
f. Tracking training/CE (for example, unclear what training counts toward requirements or lack tracking system)	1 	0 
g. Training not applicable (for example, existing trainings may not address specific needs of RCCIs)	1 	0 
h. Cost (for example, trainings, travel, or hourly wage may be cost-prohibitive)	1 	0 
i. Do not understand or prioritize training and CE standards	1 	0 
i. Other (Specify)	1 	0 
(STRING (NUM))

NEW

5.7 Which of the following challenges do RCCIs in your State face in meeting the professional standards hiring requirements?

	Select one per row
	YES	NO
a. Difficult to recruit or hire qualified applicants with minimum education required	1 	0 
b. Difficult to recruit or hire qualified applicants with minimum amount of experience	1 	0 
c. Difficult to recruit or hire qualified applicants with the right type of experience for RCCIs	1 	0 
d. Do not understand or prioritize hiring standards	1 	0 
e. Unable retain personnel who meet hiring standards	1 	0 
f. Other (Specify)	1 	0 
(STRING (NUM))

NEW

5.8 Which of the following challenges do rural SFAs in your State face related to meeting the professional training and CE standards?

	Select one per row
	YES	NO
a. Identifying training/CE needed by SFA personnel	1 	0 
b. SFA personnel lack time to attend training	1 	0 
c. Non-SFA personnel and/or volunteers do not attend training	1 	0 
d. Insufficient technology (for example, lack internet access or software)	1 	0 
e. SFA personnel do not find training useful or relevant	1 	0 
f. Tracking training/CE (for example, unclear what training counts toward requirements or lack tracking system)	1 	0 
g. Training not applicable (for example, existing trainings may not address specific needs of rural SFAs)	1 	0 
h. Cost (for example, trainings, travel, or hourly wage may be cost-prohibitive)	1 	0 
i. Do not understand or prioritize training and CE standards	1 	0 
j. Other (Specify)	1 	0 
(STRING (NUM))

NEW

5.9 Which of the following challenges do rural SFAs in your State face in meeting the professional standards hiring requirements?

	Select one per row
	YES	NO
a. Difficult to recruit or hire qualified applicants with minimum education required	1 	0 
b. Difficult to recruit or hire qualified applicants with minimum amount of experience	1 	0 
c. Difficult to recruit or hire qualified applicants with the right type of experience for rural schools	1 	0 
d. Do not understand or prioritize hiring standards	1 	0 
e. Unable retain personnel who meet hiring standards	1 	0 
f. Other (Specify)	1 	0 
(STRING (NUM))

This section asks about the background of the current State Child Nutrition Director. If you are responding on behalf of the State Child Nutrition Director, please obtain the information from the State Child Nutrition Director and enter it here.

CNOPS-II Year 2

5.10 How do you describe your role as State Child Nutrition Director?

select ALL THAT APPLY

 I am the State director of school meal programs 1

 I am the State director of food distribution programs 2

 I am an interim or acting State director 3

 Other (Specify) 99

Specify (STRING (NUM))

CNOPS-II Year 2

5.11 Before starting your position as the State Child Nutrition Director, how many years of experience did you have in institutional food service operations, management, business, and/or nutrition education?

IF NONE, PLEASE ENTER 0.

YEAR(S)

5.12 What is the highest level of education you have completed?

CNOPS-II Year 2

SELECT ONE ONLY

 Less than high school 1 SKIP TO 5.14

 High school diploma or GED 2 SKIP TO 5.14

 Associate’s degree 3 SKIP TO 5.14

 Bachelor’s degree 4

 Master’s degree 5

 Doctorate 6

5.13a What was your bachelor’s degree major in college?

CNOPS-II Year 2

SELECT ALL THAT APPLY

 Food and nutrition 1

 Food service management 2

 Family and consumer sciences 3

 Dietetics 4

 Culinary arts 5

 Nutrition education 6

 Business 7

 Other (Specify) 99

Specify (STRING (NUM))

IF 5.12 = 4, SKIP TO 5.14.

5.13b In what field(s) did you receive a master’s and/or doctorate degree?

CNOPS-II Year 2

SELECT ALL THAT APPLY

 Food and nutrition 1

 Food service management 2

 Family and consumer sciences 3

 Dietetics 4

 Culinary arts 5

 Nutrition education 6

 Business 7

 Other (Specify) 99

Specify (STRING (NUM))

CNOPS-II Year 2

5.14 What is the current minimum education requirement for the Child Nutrition Director position in your State?

SELECT ONE ONLY

 High school diploma or GED 1 SKIP TO SURVEY

VERIFICATION SCREEN

 Associate’s degree 2 SKIP TO SURVEY

VERIFICATION SCREEN

 Bachelor’s degree 3

 Master’s degree or doctorate 4

NEW

5.15 The State Child Nutrition Director position requires a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree in a job-related major, or “other related majors”. What “other related majors” are accepted in your State?

select ALL THAT APPLY

 Education 1

 Public administration/public policy 2

 Public Health 3

 Law 4

 None 0

 Other (Specify) 99

Specify (STRING (NUM))

5.16 Were you hired or promoted to State Child Nutrition Director on or after July 1, 2015?

CNOPS-II Year 2

 Yes 1

 No 0

VERIFICATION SCREEN

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SURVEY SECTION VERIFICATION SCREEN

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File Type	application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
File Title	CNOPS II State CN Director Survey
Subject	Survey Instruments
Author	MATHEMATICA STAFF
File Modified	0000-00-00
File Created	2021-01-15