SNA Legislative Action Conference 2006 March 13, 2006 FNS Research Update Alberta Frost, Director Office of Analysis, Nutrition, & Evaluation

Selected Ongoing or Recently Completed Studies Improve Program Access –Analysis of SFSP and Food Needs of Nonparticipating Children –Pennsylvania SFSP Rural Eligibility Pilot Project Build A HealthierUS/Obesity Prevention –School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study-III (SNDA-III)

Selected Ongoing or Recently Completed Studies Improve Program Integrity –Feasibility of Data Matching in NSLP –Regional Office Review of Applications (RORA) –NSLP/SBP Access, Participation, Eligibility and Certification Study (APEC) –School Lunch and Breakfast Meal Cost Study –CACFP Sponsor Tiering Determination

Studies Being Presented Today School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study-III (SNDA-III) Regional Office Review of Applications (RORA) NSLP/SBP Access, Participation, Eligibility and Certification Study (APEC) School Lunch and Breakfast Cost Study -II

School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study-III (SNDA-III) Agency’s periodic assessment of the nutritional effects of school meals. SNDA-II (School Year ) examined the nutritional quality of school meals (not intakes). This nationally representative study will examine: –SFA characteristics/operations –Nutritional quality of meals offered/served –Participant characteristics –Student dietary intakes and the contribution of school meals to these intakes.

SNDA-III Sample includes about 135 public SFAs, 400 schools, and 2,400 students. Data collected in School Year 2004/05 is currently being analyzed. Final reports are expected in Fall 2006

Regional Office Review of Applications (RORA) –Study Objective: Estimate the rate of administrative accuracy in: SFA eligibility determinations for f/rp meals SFA meal ticket status –Nationally representative sample of 56 SFAs –Random sample of about 50 applications per SFA collected by Regional staff in SY 2004/05 and analyzed by FNS Headquarter staff –Report Released in December 2005 –Similar data collection to continue in future years

RORA 2005 Results SFAs made incorrect eligibility determinations on 3.5% of approved/denied applications at the time of certification. The percentage of applications in error was slightly higher (4.2%) for income-based applications only. 83 percent of the incorrectly certified applications resulted in students being certified for more benefits than were justified.

NSLP/SBP Access, Participation, Eligibility, and Certification Study (APEC) This study is being undertaken to meet the requirements of the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (P.L ) for estimating the extent of overpayments, underpayments and overall erroneous payments made under NSLP and SBP. This study will examine erroneous payments attributable to misclassification of students (administrative error, household misreporting) and meal counting and claiming errors.

APEC Data is being collected in SY , from a nationally representative sample of: –About 240 schools in 80 SFAs –About 3,200 household. Data collection includes: –record abstractions (applications, meal count and claiming forms) –telephone surveys of SFA staff –in-person interviews with households –on-site observation of cashier transactions. Final report is expected in 2007.

School Lunch and Breakfast Cost Study – II Study objective: Determine the average cost of producing reimbursable school meals This study will use a direct measurement approach similar to the methodology used in the last meal cost study completed in 1994.

School Lunch and Breakfast Cost Study – II On-site data collection will occur in about 3 schools in a nationally representative sample of 122 school districts during SY 2005/06. Review of final FY 2005/06 annual financial statements, review of indirect cost allocations and identification of unreported costs will occur in Fall A final report is expected in Fall 2007.

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