Policy Memo (64.19 KB)
| DATE: | March 2, 2006 | |
| POLICY MEMO: | SP14-2006 | |
| SUBJECT: | Reauthorization 2004: Communications Concerning Verification Activities | |
| TO: | Special Nutrition Programs All Regions |
State Agencies Child Nutrition Programs All States |
In a memorandum dated Dec. 23, 2005, we described the requirement that communications with households regarding application, certification and verification procedures for free and reduced price school meals be provided in languages that are understandable to parents and guardians. This requirement is found in section 9(b)(8) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. We would also like to remind and stress to local education agencies (LEA) that this requirement includes verification materials and statements concerning the use or disclosure of information, including the use of social security numbers. In addition, to the maximum extent practicable, any direct communication with parents or guardians must be in a language they can understand.
To assist LEAs with providing communications in other languages, we have submitted the prototype application and related materials to a contractor for translation. We requested input from state agencies through our regional offices, and the following are the languages into which the prototype application and related materials will be translated:
| Russian Vietnamese Chinese (Mandarin) Japanese Serbo-Croatian Arabic Korean Tagalog Somali |
Cambodian/Khmer French Hmong Haitian Creole Laotian Polish Samoan |
Portuguese Sudanese Thai Urdu Hindi Kurdish Farsi Greek |
Please note that the Spanish translation of the prototype application is already available on our website, and as these additional translations are completed during April, we will be making them available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/FRP/frp.process.htm.
Please contact your regional office if you have any questions.
STANLEY C. GARNETT
Director
Child Nutrition Division