COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Bureau of Budget and Fiscal Management

March 24, 2006

NSLP MEMO

SUBJECT: NEW SPONSOR INFORMATION

TO: Potential Sponsors of School Nutrition Programs

FROM: Vonda Fekete, M.S., R.D., L.D.N.

Nutrition Education and School Nutrition Programs Supervisor

Division of Food and Nutrition

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Afterschool Snack Program (ASP), and Special Milk Program (SMP) are under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Division of Food and Nutrition, is the administering agency for these programs. Schools and institutions submit monthly claims for reimbursement to receive money for reimbursable meals/milk/snacks served.

To apply for sponsorship in any of the programs mentioned above, please access the Child Nutrition Program Electronic Application and Reimbursement System (CN PEARS). This is a WEB based system at www.pears.ed.state.pa.us. If you click on the “New Sponsor Information Package” button, you will access the necessary forms required to begin your application process. The Tax Information Form, W-9, Pre-Award Civil Rights Questionnaire, PEARS Signer/User Authorization Form, and Policy Statement/Agreement must be completed and submitted to us for approval. With the completion of these forms, you will be given access to the CN PEARS system to complete the application process.

The application process includes accessing the Sponsor Application on PEARS and completing the required information. Sponsors should then enter the Site Information. Instructions for this process are available on the PEARS Form Download Menu, Procedures Section, PDE000c, or accessed at www.pears.ed.state.pa.us/forms/files/PDE000c.doc. The Sponsor Application and Site Information MUST BE COMPLETED within 60 days of receiving your user ID and password, or your information will be deleted and the process will have to be started from the beginning.

If you have any questions, please contact me at (717) 783-6553 or 1-800-331-0129, Extension 76833, or e-mail me at .