[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30095-30101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13827]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study-II

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) invites the general public and other 
public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. 
This collection is a new collection for the School Nutrition and Meal 
Cost Study-II (SNMCS-II). The purpose of SNMCS-II is to provide a 
comprehensive picture of school food service operations and the 
nutritional quality, cost, and acceptability of meals served in the 
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program 
(SBP).

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received on or before 
August 27, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: John Endahl, Office of Policy 
Support, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1004, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may 
also be submitted via fax to the attention of John Endahl at 703-305-
2576 or via email to [email protected]. Comments will also be 
accepted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov, and follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments electronically.
    All written comments will be open for public inspection at the 
office of the Food and Nutrition Service during regular business hours 
(8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center 
Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request

[[Page 30096]]

for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will be a 
matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of this information collection should be directed to John Endahl 
at 703-305-2127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions that were used; (c) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Title: School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study-II.
    Form Number: N/A.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
    Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: SNMCS-II will provide a comprehensive picture of the NSLP 
and SBP, and will provide critical information about the nutritional 
quality, cost, and acceptability of school meals seven years after 
major reforms began being phased in during the 2012-2013 school year 
(SY). SNMCS-II will collect a broad range of data from nationally 
representative samples of public school food authorities (SFAs), 
public, non-charter schools, students, and parents/guardians during SY 
2019-2020. These data will provide Federal, State, and local 
policymakers with current information about how federally sponsored 
school meal programs are operating by updating the information that was 
collected in SY 2014-2015 for the first School Nutrition and Meal Cost 
Study (SNMCS-I). In addition, findings from SNMCS-II will be compared 
to those from SNMCS-I to explore trends in key domains including the 
nutrient content of school meals, meal costs and revenues, and student 
participation, plate waste, and dietary intakes. SNMCS-II will also 
estimate the costs of producing reimbursable school meals in up to five 
States and Territories outside of the 48 contiguous States and the 
District of Columbia (DC), and examine the relationship of costs to 
revenues in those five outlying areas. Section 28(a) of the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act authorizes this assessment of the 
cost of producing meals, and the nutrient profile of meals under the 
NSLP and SBP.
    The sample frame of SFAs is divided into four groups, including the 
outlying areas. Samples in Groups 1, 2, and 3 are limited to the 
contiguous 48 States and DC. The outlying areas sample includes SFAs 
and schools in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin 
Islands.
    Data collected from the Group 1 sample will provide the precision 
required for national estimates of SFA-level characteristics and food 
service operations. Data collected from the Group 2 sample will be used 
to address study objectives related to the school nutrition environment 
and food service operations; the food and nutrient content of school 
meals; student participation in the NSLP and SBP; student/parent 
satisfaction with the school meal programs; and students' 
characteristics and dietary intakes. Data collected from the Group 3 
sample will be used to address study objectives related to the school 
nutrition environment and food service operations; the food and 
nutrient content of school meals; the costs to produce reimbursable 
school lunches and breakfasts, including indirect and local 
administrative costs, and the ratios of revenues to costs; and plate 
waste in the school meals programs. Data collected from the outlying 
areas sample will be used to estimate the costs of producing 
reimbursable school meals and the ratios of revenues to costs.
    There is pre-testing burden that is associated with this 
collection. This burden was reviewed and approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget on March 19, 2018 under OMB# 0584-0606 FNS 
Generic Clearance for Pre-Testing, Pilot, and Field Test Studies 
(School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study-II, Outlying Areas Cost Study 
Feasibility Assessment). This burden is not included in the burden 
estimates for this collection.
    Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments respondent 
groups include: (1) State Child Nutrition Agency directors; (2) State 
Education Agency finance officers; (3) school district superintendents; 
(4) SFA directors; (5) local educational agency business managers; (6) 
menu planners; (7) school nutrition managers (SNMs); (8) principals; 
and (9) school study liaisons appointed by principals. Private Sector 
For-Profit Business respondents include food service management company 
managers. Individual respondents include: (1) Students (first grade 
through high school) and (2) their parents/guardians.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: A total of 12,979 members of the 
public will be initially contacted to participate in the study. This 
includes 4,954 from State, Local, and Tribal Governments, 25 from 
Private Sector For-Profit Businesses, and 8,000 Individuals. Initial 
contact will vary by type of respondent and may include study 
notification, recruiting, or data collection. FNS anticipates that 
approximately 12,904 of this sample will respond to initial contact and 
75 will not respond. Some respondents who respond to the initial 
contact may subsequently become non-respondents to one or more 
components of the data collection. The number of unique respondents 
expected to provide data for the study is 7,886.
    The Group 1 completed sample includes 125 SFAs but no schools. 
Group 1 SFA directors will participate in the SFA Director Survey.
    The Group 2 completed sample comprises 125 SFAs, 250 schools, and 
2,000 students and their parents/guardians. SFA and school staff will 
participate in the SFA Director and School Planning Interviews; SFA 
Director, SNM, and Principal Surveys; the Basic Menu Survey, A la Carte 
Foods Checklist, and Meal Pattern Crediting Report; and Cafeteria 
Observation Guide and Competitive Foods Checklists. Students and 
parents/guardians will complete the Student Interview, including height 
and weight measurement; 24-dietary recall; and Parent Interview.
    The Group 3 completed sample includes 250 SFAs and 750 schools. SFA 
and school staff will participate in the SFA Director and School 
Planning Interviews; SFA Cost Interview and Food Cost Worksheet; SFA 
Follow-Up Web Survey and Cost Interview; SNM Cost Interview; Principal 
Cost Interview; SFA Director, SNM, and Principal Surveys; the Expanded 
Menu Survey, A la Carte Foods Checklist, and Meal Pattern Crediting 
Report; and Cafeteria Observation Guide and Competitive Foods 
Checklists. Forty State Education Agency finance officers will complete 
the State Agency Indirect Cost Survey. Plate waste will be observed for 
3,900 reimbursable lunches and 2,000 reimbursable breakfasts at a 
subsample of 130 schools among this Group 3 sample.
    In the outlying areas, following recruitment, SFA and school staff 
in 33 SFAs and 216 schools will complete the SFA Director and School 
Planning Interviews; SFA Cost Interview and

[[Page 30097]]

Food Cost Worksheet; SFA Follow-Up Web Survey and Cost Interview; SNM 
Cost Interview; Principal Cost Interview; and the Expanded Menu Survey. 
Up to 5 State Education Agency finance officers will complete the State 
Agency Indirect Cost Survey and the State Child Nutrition Agency 
directors in Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands will complete the SFA 
Cost Interview and SFA Follow-Up Cost Interview to capture the State 
agencies' involvement in SFAs' food service operations.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: All respondents will 
be asked to respond to each specific data collection activity only 
once. The overall average number of responses per respondent across the 
entire collection is 3.52.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 45,653.
    Estimated Time per Response: 33 minutes (0.55 hours). The estimated 
response varies from 1 minute to 10.25 hours, depending on the data 
collection activity and the respondent group, as shown in the table 
below.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 25,184 hours. This 
includes 24,950 hours for respondents and 234 hours for non-
respondents. See the table below for each type of respondent.

    Dated: June 20, 2018.
Brandon Lipps,
Administrator Food and Nutrition Service.

[[Page 30098]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Response                                                Non-Response
                                                                -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grand total
                                                                                                                  Total                                                     Total       annual
    Affected public       Data collection        Respondents      Estimated    Frequency    Total     Average     annual    Estimated    Frequency    Total     Average     annual      burden
                              activity                            number of       of        annual     burden     burden    number of       of        annual     burden     burden     estimate
                                                                 respondents   response   responses  hours per   estimate  respondents   response   responses  hours per   estimate    (hours)
                                                                                                      response   (hours)                                        response   (hours)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State.................  Study Notification   State Child                  54           1         54       0.40      21.60            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        21.60
                         and SFA Data         Nutrition Agency
                         Request Email        Directors (Groups
                         (a)(b)(c).           1, 2, 3, outlying
                                              areas).
State.................  Telephone Interview  State Child                   2           1          2       3.08       6.16            0           0          0       0.00       0.00         6.16
                         (SFA Cost            Nutrition Agency
                         Interview, provide   Directors
                         financial records).  (outlying areas).
State.................  Telephone Interview  State Child                   2           1          2       2.00       4.00            0           0          0       0.00       0.00         4.00
                         (SFA Follow-Up       Nutrition Agency
                         Cost Interview,      Directors
                         provide financial    (outlying areas).
                         records).
State.................  Self-Administered    State Education              45           1         45       0.17       7.65            9           1          9       0.07       0.63         8.28
                         Form (study          Agency Finance
                         letter, State        Officers (Group
                         Agency Indirect      3, outlying
                         Cost Survey)         areas).
                         (a)(b)(c).
Local and Tribal......  Recruitment (a)(c).  Superintendents             438           1        438       0.33     144.54           35           1         35       0.07       2.45       146.99
                                              (Groups 2, 3,
                                              outlying areas).
Local and Tribal......  Study Notification   SFA Directors               473           1        473       0.10      47.30            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        47.30
                         (a).                 (Groups 2, 3,
                                              outlying areas).
Local and Tribal......  Recruitment (c)....  SFA Directors               438           1        438       0.28     122.64           35           1         35       0.07       2.45       125.09
                                              (Groups 2, 3,
                                              outlying areas).
Local and Tribal......  Telephone Survey     SFA Directors               438           1        438       0.58     254.04            0           0          0       0.00       0.00       254.04
                         (SFA Director        (Groups 2, 3,
                         Planning             outlying areas).
                         Interview, study
                         confirmation).
Local and Tribal......  Web Survey Advance   SFA Directors               139           1        139       0.05       6.95            0           0          0       0.00       0.00         6.95
                         Letter (a)(c).       (Group 1).
Local and Tribal......  Web Survey           SFA Directors               555           1        555       0.02      11.10            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        11.10
                         Invitation.          (Groups 1, 2, 3).
Local and Tribal......  Self-Administered    SFA Directors               125           1        125       0.83     103.75           14           1         14       0.07       0.93       104.68
                         Web Survey (SFA      (Group 1).
                         Director Survey)
                         (b)(c).
Local and Tribal......  Self-Administered    SFA Directors               125           1        125       0.83     103.75           14           1         14       0.07       0.93       104.68
                         Web Survey (SFA      (Group 2).
                         Director Survey)
                         (b)(c).
Local and Tribal......  Self-Administered    SFA Directors               250           1        250       0.83     207.50           27           1         27       0.07       1.80       209.30
                         Web Survey (SFA      (Group 3).
                         Director Survey)
                         (b)(c).
Local and Tribal......  Web Survey Reminder  SFA Directors               278           1        278       0.15      41.70            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        41.70
                                              (Groups 1, 2, 3).
Local and Tribal......  School Roster        SFA Directors                98           1         98       1.00      98.00           32           1         32       0.07       2.24       100.24
                         Request Email.       (Group 2).
Local and Tribal......  On-Site Data         SFA Directors               390           1        390       0.05      19.50            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        19.50
                         Collection           (Groups 2, 3).
                         Logistics Email.
Local and Tribal......  In-person Interview  SFA Directors               250           1        250       3.25     812.50           14           1         14       0.14       1.96       814.46
                         (SFA Cost            (Group 3).
                         Interview, Food
                         Cost Worksheet,
                         provide records).
Local and Tribal......  Telephone Interview  SFA Directors                33           1         33       3.25     107.25            2           1          2       0.14       0.28       107.53
                         (SFA Cost            (outlying areas).
                         Interview, Food
                         Cost Worksheet,
                         provide records)
                         (b).
Local and Tribal......  In-person or         LEA Business                283           1        283       3.08     871.64           16           1         16       0.07       1.12       872.76
                         Telephone            Managers (Group
                         Interview (SFA       3, outlying
                         Cost Interview,      areas).
                         provide records)
                         (a)(b)(c).
Local and Tribal......  Follow-Up Web        SFA Directors               283           1        283       0.05      14.15            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        14.15
                         Survey Invitation.   (Group 3,
                                              outlying areas).
Local and Tribal......  Self-Administered    SFA Directors               269           1        269       0.50     134.50           14           1         14       0.07       0.93       135.43
                         Web Survey (SFA      (Group 3,
                         Follow-Up Web        outlying areas).
                         Survey) (c).
Local and Tribal......  Telephone Interview  SFA Directors               269           1        269       2.00     538.00           14           1         14       0.07       0.93       538.93
                         (SFA Follow-Up       (Group 3,
                         Cost Interview,      outlying areas).
                         provide financial
                         records).

[[Page 30099]]

 
Local and Tribal......  Telephone Interview  LEA Business                269           1        269       2.00     538.00           14           1         14       0.07       0.93       538.93
                         (SFA Follow-Up       Managers (Group
                         Cost Interview,      3, outlying
                         provide financial    areas).
                         records) (c).
Local and Tribal......  Self-Administered    Menu Planners               375           1        375       1.50     562.50           15           1         15       0.07       1.05       563.55
                         Web Survey (Meal     (Groups 2, 3).
                         Pattern Crediting
                         Report) (a)(b)(c).
Local and Tribal......  Study Notification   School Nutrition          1,541           1      1,541       0.13     200.33            0           0          0       0.00       0.00       200.33
                         (a).                 Managers (Groups
                                              2, 3, outlying
                                              areas).
Local and Tribal......  Self-Administered    School Nutrition            966           1        966       0.25     241.50           50           1         50       0.07       3.50       245.00
                         Web Survey (School   Managers (Group
                         Planning             3, outlying
                         Interview) (c).      areas).
Local and Tribal......  On-Site Data         School Nutrition          1,040           1      1,040       0.05      52.00            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        52.00
                         Collection           Managers (Groups
                         Logistics Email.     2, 3).
Local and Tribal......  Self-Administered    School Nutrition            250           1        250       8.25   2,062.50           13           1         13       0.14       1.78     2,064.28
                         Web Survey (Basic    Managers (Group
                         Menu Survey, A la    2).
                         Carte Foods
                         Checklist, SNM
                         Survey) (b)(c).
Local and Tribal......  Self-Administered    School Nutrition            750           1        750      10.25   7,687.50           39           1         39       0.14       5.33     7,692.83
                         Web Survey           Managers (Group
                         (Expanded Menu       3).
                         Survey, A la Carte
                         Foods Checklist,
                         SNM Survey) (b)(c).
Local and Tribal......  Self-Administered    School Nutrition            216           1        216       8.34   1,801.44           11           1         11       0.07       0.75     1,802.19
                         Web Survey           Managers
                         (Expanded Menu       (outlying areas).
                         Survey) (b)(c).
Local and Tribal......  In-person or         School Nutrition            966           1        966       1.00     966.00           50           1         50       0.07       3.33       969.33
                         Telephone            Managers (Group
                         Interview (SNM       3, outlying
                         Cost Interview).     areas).
Local and Tribal......  Interviewer-         School Nutrition            173           1        173       0.17      28.83            9           1          9       0.07       0.60        29.43
                         Completed            Managers (Group
                         Observation (Self-   3).
                         Serve/Made-to-
                         Order Bar Form).
Local and Tribal......  Interviewer-         School Nutrition          1,000           1      1,000       0.08      83.00            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        83.00
                         Completed            Managers (Groups
                         Observation          2, 3).
                         (Cafeteria
                         Observation Guide).
Local and Tribal......  Interviewer-         School Nutrition            250           1        250       0.08      20.83            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        20.83
                         Completed            Managers (Group
                         Observation (Point-  2).
                         of-Sale Form).
Local and Tribal......  In-person Data       School Nutrition            250           1        250       0.17      41.67            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        41.67
                         Request              Managers (Group
                         (Reimbursable Meal   2).
                         Sale Data Request).
Local and Tribal......  Interviewer-         School Nutrition            130           1        130       0.17      21.67            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        21.67
                         Completed            Managers (Group
                         Observation (Plate   3).
                         Waste Observation
                         Booklet).
Local and Tribal......  Study Notification   Principals (Groups        1,040           1      1,040       0.18     187.20            0           0          0       0.00       0.00       187.20
                         and On-Site Data     2, 3).
                         Collection
                         Logistics Email
                         (a).
Local and Tribal......  Study Notification   Principals                  227           1        227       0.13      29.51            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        29.51
                         (a).                 (outlying areas).
Local and Tribal......  Web Survey           Principals (Groups        1,000           1      1,000       0.02      20.00            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        20.00
                         Invitation.          2, 3).
Local and Tribal......  Self-Administered    Principals (Groups          900           1        900       0.50     450.00          100           1        100       0.07       6.67       456.67
                         Web Survey           2, 3).
                         (Principal Survey)
                         (b)(c).
Local and Tribal......  Web Survey Reminder  Principals (Groups          500           1        500       0.15      75.00            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        75.00
                                              2, 3).
Local and Tribal......  In-person Interview  Principals (Group           750           1        750       0.75     562.50           39           1         39       0.07       2.60       565.10
                         (Principal Cost      3).
                         Interview).
Local and Tribal......  Telephone Interview  Principals                  216           1        216       0.75     162.00           11           1         11       0.07       0.73       162.73
                         (Principal Cost      (outlying areas).
                         Interview) (b)(c).
Local and Tribal......  Self-Administered    School Liaisons             264           1        264       0.25      66.00            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        66.00
                         Web Survey (School   (Group 2).
                         Planning
                         Interview)
                         (a)(b)(c).
Local and Tribal......  On-Site Data         School Liaisons             250           1        250       0.05      12.50            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        12.50
                         Collection           (Group 2).
                         Logistics Email.
Local and Tribal......  School Roster        School Liaisons              70           1         70       1.00      70.00            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        70.00
                         Request Email.       (Group 2).
                                                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 30100]]

 
    Subtotal State,     ...................  ..................        4,879  ..........     18,630  .........  19,620.70           75  ..........        577  .........      43.94    19,664.64
     Local, and Tribal
     Governments.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Private Sector For-     Study Notification   Food Service                 25           1         25       0.07       1.75            0           0          0       0.00       0.00         1.75
 Profit.                 (a).                 Management
                                              Company Manager
                                              (Groups 2, 3,
                                              outlying areas).
Private Sector For-     Recruitment (c)....  Food Service                 24           1         24       0.25       6.00            1           1          1       0.07       0.07         6.07
 Profit.                                      Management
                                              Company Manager
                                              (Groups 2, 3,
                                              outlying areas).
                                                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal Private    ...................  ..................           25  ..........         49  .........       7.75            0  ..........          1  .........       0.07         7.82
     Sector For-Profit
     Businesses.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual............  Study Notification   Parents/Guardians         4,000           1      4,000       0.13     520.00            0           0          0       0.00       0.00       520.00
                         (a).                 (Group 2).
Individual............  Study Consent Form   Parents/Guardians         3,712           1      3,712       0.10     371.20          288           1        288       0.07      20.16       391.36
                         (c).                 (Group 2).
Individual............  Survey Invitation..  Parents/Guardians         2,222           1      2,222       0.02      44.44            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        44.44
                                              (Group 2).
Individual............  Self-Administered    Parents/Guardians         2,000           1      2,000       0.42     833.33          222           1        222       0.07      15.54       848.87
                         Web Survey or        (Group 2).
                         Telephone
                         Interview (Parent
                         Interview) (b)(c).
Individual............  Self-Administered    Parents/Guardians         1,066           1      1,066       0.19     198.99          196           1        196       0.02       3.92       202.91
                         Form (dietary        (Group 2).
                         recall reminder,
                         Food Diary, Day 1/
                         Day 2).
Individual............  Telephone Interview  Parents/Guardians           820           1        820       0.25     205.00           91           1         91       0.07       6.37       211.37
                         (24-Hour Dietary     (Group 2).
                         Recall, Day 1).
Individual............  Telephone Interview  Parents/Guardians           246           1        246       0.75     184.50          105           1        105       0.07       7.00       191.50
                         (24-Hour Dietary     (Group 2).
                         Recall, Day 2) (c).
Individual............  Study Assent Form    Students (Group 2)        4,000           1      4,000       0.05     200.00            0           0          0       0.00       0.00       200.00
                         (a).
Individual............  Study Reminder, Day  Students (Group 2)        2,857           1      2,857       0.02      57.14            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        57.14
                         1.
Individual............  In-person Interview  Students (Group 2)        2,000           1      2,000       1.12   2,240.00          857           1        857       0.14     119.98     2,359.98
                         (Student
                         Interview, 24-Hour
                         Dietary Recall,
                         Day 1) (b)(c).
Individual............  Study Reminder, Day  Students (Group 2)          857           1        857       0.02      17.14            0           0          0       0.00       0.00        17.14
                         2.
Individual............  Telephone Interview  Students (Group 2)          600           1        600       0.75     450.00          257           1        257       0.07      17.13       467.13
                         (24-Hour Dietary
                         Recall, Day 2) (c).
                                                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal            ...................  ..................        8,000  ..........     24,380  .........   5,321.74            0  ..........      2,016  .........     190.10     5,511.84
     Individuals.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grand Total...........  ...................  12,904............  ...........      43,059       0.58  24,950.19         75  ...........  ..........      2,594       0.09     234.11    25,184.30
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



[[Page 30101]]

[FR Doc. 2018-13827 Filed 6-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P