Appendix C6. SNA Endorsement Letter (Groups 2, 3, & Full and Limited Outlying Areas)

C6.
SNA ENDORSEMENT LETTER (GROUPS 2, 3 & FULL AND LIMITED OUTLYING
AREAS)

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OMB Control Number: 0584-XXXX
Expiration Date: XX/XX/XXXX

April 23, 2019
Dear School Nutrition Professional:
I am writing to encourage your participation in the second School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study (SNMCS-II).
As you know, SNMCS-I provided critical information to policy makers, program managers, and others about
the implementation and impacts of the new nutrition standards and the nutritional quality and costs of
school meals across the nation. In addition, for the first time, the study examined associations between the
nutritional quality and cost of school meals, as well as associations between the nutritional quality of meals
and student participation, students’ dietary intakes, and other important outcomes. The support of school
nutrition professionals was important to the success of SNMCS-I and to the precursor School Nutrition and
Dietary Assessment (SNDA) and School Lunch and Breakfast Cost (SLBCS) studies, and I hope you can provide
the same assistance and support for SNMCS-II.
Mathematica Policy Research and its research partners Agralytica, Decision Information Resources, Insight
Policy Research, and Relyon Solutions are conducting SNMCS-II for USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
Like SNMCS-I, the study will examine the food and nutrient content of meals offered and served, and meal
costs and revenues in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. It will also
provide needed information on food service operations under the new nutrition standards and gather
information about a range of other issues important to the school meal programs, including student
participation and dietary intake, the amounts and proportions of foods served that are wasted, and the
availability of competitive foods. Data will be collected from school food authorities (SFAs), schools, and
students and parents primarily between January and June 2020. The study will include a national sample of
500 SFAs and 1000 schools.
Thank you in advance for your assistance. I hope that you agree with me that the data collected and analyzed
through SNMCS will provide critical information in setting policies and program changes that can truly
support schools in serving meals that contribute to a healthy future for our children – a goal we all share.
Sincerely,

Gay Anderson, SNS
SNA President

Patti Montague, CAE
Chief Executive Officer, SNA

cc: SNA Board of Directors
2900 S. Quincy Street | Suite 700 | Arlington, VA 22206 | phone: 703.824.3000 • 800.877.8822 | fax: 703.824.3015 |
www.schoolnutrition.org

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