Superintendents
Co-op Directors
other: All Principals
Child Nutrition Directors
Pre School Coord.
SIS and APSCN Coord.
Certifying Officials

Regulatory Authority:
7 CFR § 210.15 and Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-2305(b)(4)(B) and (f)(2), Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-2303(12)

Phone Number:
501-324-9502

E-mail:
wanda.shockey@arkansas.gov

This memo is provided to clarify the reporting of pre-kindergarten (pre-K) enrollment and free/reduced-price eligibles. The federal funding source and state agency distributing funds for pre-K meals will determine the reporting method.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Child Nutrition Unit (CNU) for federal child nutrition programs such as breakfast, lunch, and afterschool snack for public school students. USDA funds the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Districts that operate pre-K programs can choose which state agency-operated USDA program will provide pre-K meals.

ADE -- USDA-Funded Meal Service Option:
If the pre-K students eat school meals in a public school and the school district claims reimbursement for these meals from ADE CNU, the district will report all these pre-K students on Arkansas Public School Computer Network (APSCN) Cycle 2 Reports 336 and 436.

DHS -- USDA CACFP-Funded Meal Service Option:
If pre-K students eat meals that are reimbursed by the DHS CACFP program, do NOT report these students on APSCN Cycle 2. DHS will collect pre-K student enrollment and eligibles data via the DHS Special Nutrition Unit reporting system.

CACFP pre-K students, served Pre-K CONTRACTED MEALS by a public school’s child nutrition department, SHALL NOT be reported on the APSCN Cycle 2.

Selection of a USDA-Funded Meal Service Option:
To prevent the possibility of making duplicate claims for reimbursement to ADE and DHS, school district superintendents are cautioned to include both the district child nutrition director and pre-K staff involved in the service of pre-K student meals in the process to determine which food service option to select.

For assistance in making the decision as to which USDA program to utilize, see the attached comparison chart, “Pre-Schools in Public Schools, USDA-Funded Food Service Options.” See page 2 to identify the pre-K programs that normally meet the criteria for participation in the ADE-funded USDA child nutrition programs.