Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 005 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Division 01 - Division of Fiscal and Administrative Services
Rule 005.01.05-001 - Governing the Certification and Continuing Professional Development of Child Nutrition Directors, Managers, and Workers
Universal Citation: AR Admin Rules 005.01.05-001
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
1.0 PURPOSE
1.01 The purpose of these rules is to
establish the requirements and procedures for certification and continuing
professional development of Child Nutrition Directors, Managers, and
Workers.
2.0 REGULATORY AUTHORITY
2.01 These shall
be known as the Arkansas Department of Education Rules Governing Certification
and Continuing Professional Development of Child Nutrition Directors, Managers,
and Workers.
2.02 These regulations
are enacted pursuant to the authority of the State Board of Education under
Ark. Code Ann. §§
20-7-134,
20-7-135.
3.0 DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of these Rules the following terms shall be defined to mean:
3.01 Child Nutrition
(CN) Director - The local education agency (LEA) or school district employee
who administers a school district's federal child nutrition program through the
interpretation of state and federal regulations.
3.02 Child Nutrition (CN) Manager - The local
education agency (LEA) or school district employee who directly supervises and
manages the federal child nutrition food service program in one or more
schools/serving sites.
3.03 Child
Nutrition Programs in Arkansas - The federal child nutrition programs operated
by Arkansas public and charter schools which include, the National School Lunch
Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Afterschool Snack Program, the
Special Milk Program and the Summer Feeding Program, as established by the
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of
1966 (as amended through PL-108-269, July 2, 2004).
3.04 Child Nutrition (CN) Worker - The local
education agency (LEA) or school district employee who prepares nutritious food
by standardized recipes for specified quantities and serves food to program
participants according to state and federal regulations.
3.05 Continuing Education for Director
Certification - The requirements for continuing education are determined by the
organization issuing the certification or credential and are in two categories:
3.05.1 Maintenance of certification status
for Arkansas Department of Education Certified Director requires 10 hours of
continuing education annually based on criteria established by the Arkansas
Department of Education, Child Nutrition Unit.
3.05.2 Those directors certified or
credentialed by the School Nutrition Association (SNA) must meet the continuing
education requirements established by SNA to maintain that certification or
credential.
3.06
Continuing Education for Managers Certification - Maintenance of certification
status requires that the Certified Manager must attend a Arkansas Department of
Education, Child Nutrition Unit Re-certification course within six (6) years of
initial certification and every 6 years thereafter.
3.07 Directors Certification - The credential
awarded to persons who complete the requirements for certification by one of
three avenues:
3.07.1 Certification by the
Arkansas Department of Education, Child Nutrition Unit (ADE-CNU) for those
directors with less than 10 years experience as a director. Course content is
based on the competencies established through research by the National Food
Service Management Institute (NFSMI).
3.07.2 Grandfather - Until July 1, 2006, 10
years or more administrative experience as a child nutrition director will be
sufficient to meet Arkansas Department of Education, Child Nutrition Unit
Director certification requirements.
3.07.3 Completion of the requirements
established by the School Nutrition Association (SNA), formerly the American
School Food Service Association (ASFSA) for Level 3 Certification OR
Credentialing as a School Food Service Nutrition Specialist (SFNS).
3.08 Full - Time Worker - A food
service employee that works a minimum of twenty (20) hours per week. Source:
Ark. Code Ann.
6-17-2202(2).
3.09 Managers Certification - The credential
awarded after completion of the requirements of the Arkansas Department of
Education, Child Nutrition Unit Manager Certification Program which is based on
competencies established through research by the National Food Service
Management Institute (NFSMI).
4.0 REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING CHILD NUTRITION DIRECTOR CERTIFICATION
4.01
Directors Certification Requirements:
4.01.1
Arkansas Department of Education-Child Nutrition Unit Certification Process -
Applicant must complete the following steps:
4.01.1.1 Provide documentation of earning a
High School Diploma or Graduation Equivalency Diploma (GED)
4.01.1.2 Provide documentation of successful
completion of one of the following advanced trainings: Manager Certification
Training; or Certification as a Dietetic Technician, or Certified Dietary
Manager, or Registered Dietitian; or Associate Degree in Foods/Nutrition or
Food Service Management; or Bachelor's Degree in related field, i.e. Family
& Consumer Sciences, Food Service Management, Hotel/restaurant Management,
or Nutrition
4.01.1.3 Successfully
complete all course work for Child Nutrition Directors Certification
Program
4.01.2 School
Nutrition Association (SNA) Certification Process - Certification and
Credentialing by the School Nutrition Association (SNA) will meet requirements
established by that organization.
4.01.2.1
Submit current documentation to the Arkansas Department of Education, Child
Nutrition Unit from School Nutrition Association (SNA) of Certification as
Director Level 3 or SFNS Credential.
4.01.2.2 Submit current documentation of
required continuing education for national certification or
credential.
4.01.3
Grandfather Status
4.01.3.1 Candidates for
Grandfather Certification status must:
4.01.3.1.1 Complete an application including
documentation from the school district of at least 10 years service as a child
nutrition director as defined in Section 3.01. Experience as a Child Nutrition
Manager or Child Nutrition Worker will not be eligible to count toward meeting
this requirement.
4.01.3.1.2 Submit
documentation that the last United States Department of Agriculture (USD A)
Coordinated Review Effort (CRE) for the district was completed as part of the
monitoring system without exceeding Performance Standard Error Thresholds as
established by USDA.
4.01.3.1.3
Annually complete continuing education requirements in order to maintain
Director Certification Status.
4.01.3.2 Failure to complete annual
continuing education requirements will result in loss of director certification
and the person will be required to achieve certification by one of the other
methods.
4.01.3.3 Those persons
with grandfather status will not be required to meet certification requirements
listed in 4.01.1 and 4.01.2.
4.01.3.4 Grandfather provision can only be
used prior to July 1, 2006 to achieve certification status.
4.02 General Policies
Pertaining to Certification of Child Nutrition Directors
4.02.1 The CN Director will be responsible
for or supervise individuals who perform the following functions: nutrition and
menu planning/production, procurement, personnel management and / or financial
management and accountability.
4.02.1.1 The
Child Nutrition Director coordinates and directs the required training for the
child nutrition program personnel.
4.02.1.2 This director can administer either
a single site or multi-site federal child nutrition program in public and
charter schools.
4.02.1.3 The Child
Nutrition Director shall be identified on the Agreement between the local
education agency and the Arkansas Department of Education, Child Nutrition
Unit.
4.02.2 The CN
Director receives general supervision from local school administration. This
person provides administrative supervision over all child nutrition employees,
including managers, workers, clerical staff.
4.02.3 All local education agencies (LEA's)
or school districts will be required to employ a certified Child Nutrition
Director by July 1, 2006.
4.02.4 No
out-of-state certification will be accepted for Arkansas Certification of Child
Nutrition Directors.
4.02.5
Documentation of Certification or Credential of the Child Nutrition Director
must be submitted annually.
4.02.6
School districts that do not employ a certified Child Nutrition Director cannot
pay salary for this position from the non-profit food service account. When a
non-certified child nutrition professional is currently working toward state
certification requirements (Section 4.01), salary may be paid from the
non-profit food service account.
4.02.7 A non-certified Child Nutrition
Director has 12 months from the date of hire to begin Directors Certification
Training process.
4.02.7.1 During the 12
months from the date of hire the Child Nutrition Director's salary may be paid
from the non-profit food service account.
4.02.7.2 If the certification process is not
begun within 12 months of the date of hire, any funds paid from the non-profit
food service account must be refunded to that account from district operating
funds.
4.02.8 All
information and documentation submitted for Certification as a Child Nutrition
Director must be timely, accurate, authentic and unaltered in any way.
4.02.8.1 Any certification issued as a result
of a violation of the above mentioned will be null and void.
4.02.8.2 Any certification found to have been
issued as a result of the above mentioned will be rescinded.
4.02.9 The Child Nutrition Unit,
Arkansas Department of Education, as authorized by the State Board of
Education, reserves the right to amend and/or rescind any certification that
has been issued in error.
5.0 REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING CHILD NUTRITION MANAGER CERTIFICATION
5.01
Managers Certification Requirements:
5.01.1
Must have a high school diploma or Graduation Equivalency Diploma
(GED)
5.01.2 Must have the
recommendation of the current employer, either the Child Nutrition Director
and/or the Superintendent.
5.01.3
Must successfully complete the ADE, CNU Managers Certification Program
requirements.
5.01.4 Must have
completed one (1) school year on the job experience after completion of ADE,
CNU Manager Certification Program fulfilling the duties and responsibilities as
a Manager or Assistant Manager to be validated by immediate
supervisor.
5.01.5 Must have a
recommendation for certification by immediate supervisor.
5.01.6 No out-of-state certification will be
accepted for Arkansas Certification of Child Nutrition Managers.
5.02 General Policies Pertaining
to Certification of Child Nutrition Managers
5.02.1 The job functions of the Child
Nutrition Manager include program accountability; sanitation, safety and
security; equipment use and care; food production; food acceptability; customer
service; record keeping; marketing; personnel management; and professional
development.
5.02.2 The Child
Nutrition Manager assists the Child Nutrition Director in delivering required
training for the child nutrition personnel.
5.02.3 The Child Nutrition Manager receives
general supervision from the Child Nutrition Director and directly supervises
employees in the school child nutrition / food service program.
5.02.4 All local education agencies (LEA's)
or school districts will be required to employ a certified Child Nutrition
Manager(s) by July 1, 2006.
5.02.5
Documentation of Certification of the Child Nutrition Manager must be submitted
annually.
5.02.6 Non-certified
Child Nutrition professionals entering a manager level position in a food
service program must meet state certification requirements within four (4)
years of employment in a child nutrition manager position.
5.02.7 School districts that do not employ a
certified Child Nutrition Manager cannot pay salary for this position from the
non-profit foodservice account. When a non-certified child nutrition
professional is currently working on state certification requirements (Section
5.01), salary may be paid from the non-profit foodservice account.
5.02.8 A non-certified Child Nutrition
Manager must begin the Managers Certification Training process within the first
12 months of employment.
5.02.8.1 During the
first 12 months of employment, the non-certified Child Nutrition Manager's
salary may be paid from the nonprofit food service account.
5.02.8.2 If the certification process is not
begun within 12 months, any funds paid from the non-profit food service account
must be refunded to that account from district operating funds.
5.02.9 All information and
documentation submitted for Certification as a Child Nutrition Manager must be
timely, accurate, authentic and unaltered in any way.
5.02.9.1 Any certification issued as a result
of a violation of the above mentioned will be null and void.
5.02.9.2 Any certification found to have been
issued as a result of the above mentioned will be rescinded.
5.02.10 The Child Nutrition Unit,
Arkansas Department of Education, as authorized by the State Board of
Education, reserves the right to amend and/or rescind any certification that
has been issued in error.
6.0 REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD NUTRITION WORKER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
6.01
The job responsibilities for Child Nutrition Workers include maintaining a
clean, safe, and sanitary work environment and actively participating in
professional development training opportunities provided by the Child Nutrition
Director and/or Child Nutrition Manager.
6.02 The Child Nutrition Worker receives
supervision from the Child Nutrition Manager and Child Nutrition
Director.
6.03 Training will be
based on job functions and skills needed to perform the tasks of a child
nutrition worker in federal child nutrition programs. At a minimum, child
nutrition worker professional development should include: basic sanitation,
food safety, basic nutrition, food preparation, and nutrition and physical
activity concepts for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
6.04 Effective school year 2006-07, it is
required that a minimum often (10) hours of professional development training
will be required of each full-time child nutrition worker.
6.04.1 The intent of this rule is not to add
additional days to the contract.
6.04.2 Training may be incorporated into the
regular work day in not less than 15 minute increments.
6.04.3 Failure of Child Nutrition Worker to
complete the 10 hour professional development training may result in personnel
action by local school district.
6.05 The school district child nutrition
director will be responsible for providing or arranging training opportunities
and maintaining a record documenting the professional development.
6.05.1 If the Child Nutrition Director has
provided or arranged for the 10 hours annual worker professional development
training, the school district will be considered in compliance.
6.05.2 All records must be maintained
according to state audit requirements.
6.05.3 The district may provide their own
training, or arrange for training in cooperation with one or more school
districts or educational cooperatives, or training may be provided by a state
agency, cooperative extension service, post secondary education institution,
state licensed vocational/technical school, the National Food Service
Management Institute, or professional associations (national, state, local)
such as the School Nutrition Association, the American Dietetic Association or
the Dietary Managers Association. -
6.06 The required district Child Nutrition
Worker professional development training shall not be provided by a private
vendor or sponsored by any commercial vendors for the purpose of selling their
product.
6.06.1 Vendors may train on the use
and care of products if that training is part of the purchase
agreement.
6.06.2 Training as
specified in 6.06.1 may be counted toward the required worker professional
development training hours.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arkansas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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