Healthy Food Certification (HFC)

Apply

The annual HFC Statement is completed online in the CSDE’s Online Application and Claiming System for Child Nutrition Programs (CNP System). The application deadline for school year 2020-21 is July 1, 2020.


HFC Application Procedures


Overview of Requirements

Districts must use the appropriate motion language and schedule the required votes at a meeting of the board of education or governing authority meeting that occurs early enough to allow the district to submit the board meeting minutes to the CSDE by July 1, 2020. The three votes include whether to:

  • adopt the healthy food option under HFC;
  • allow food exemptions to the healthy food option under HFC (if the district votes to implement the healthy food option); and
  • allow beverage exemptions under Section 10-221q of the Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) (if the district chooses to allow beverage exemptions).

Please carefully review Operational Memorandum No. 05-20: Process for Submitting the Healthy Food Certification (HFC) Statement for School Year 2020-21 for detailed information on each requirement. Districts must follow the specified instructions in this memo to ensure timely submission and CSDE approval of the 2020-21 HFC Statement.

NOTE: In Operational Memorandum 05-20, districts were asked to schedule the required votes at a board of education meeting before April 30, 2020, so that districts could submit the final board-approved meeting minutes to the CSDE by the July 1 deadline. However, the CSDE recognizes that some districts had to cancel previously scheduled board meetings in March and April, due to the current COVID-19 public health emergency. Therefore, for school year 2020-21, districts may submit draft minutes, if the final board-approved minutes will not be available by the July 1 deadline.


Overview of Steps
  1. Schedule the required votes at a meeting of the board of education or governing authority that occurs early enough to allow the district to submit the board meeting minutes to the CSDE by July 1, 2020. The board motion and board meeting minutes must include the specific criteria for the healthy food option and food exemptions required by C.G.S. Section 10-215f, and beverage exemptions required by C.G.S. Section 10-221q. For information on these requirements, see Operational Memorandum No. 05-20, and the CSDE's handout, Exemptions for Foods and Beverages in Public Schools.

  2. Conduct the required votes at the scheduled meeting of the board of education or governing authority in spring 2020. Maintain a copy of the board meeting minutes indicating the results of the HFC votes for the healthy food option and food exemptions (and the vote for beverage exemptions, if applicable).

  3. Beginning May 6, 2020: Complete the online HFC application module and upload the board meeting minutes indicating the results of the HFC votes for the healthy food option and food exemptions, and the vote for beverage exemptions (if the district chooses to allow them). Note: Refer to the instructions on how to access and complete the HFC application module.

Instructions

Resources