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Welcome to the California

 Child Nutrition Information & Payment System (CNIPS)

The CNIPS is the California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division's (NSD) Web-based system for administering the federal and state nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch and Breakfast, Food Distribution, Special Milk, Child and Adult Care Food, Summer Food Service, and Seamless Summer Feeding Option Programs.

Questions? Please email at CNIPS@cde.ca.gov

Or call CNIPS at 1-800-952-5609: Press 1 for Claims Press 2 for Civil Rights/Complaints, SNP, and Field Services Press 3 for CACFP and Summer Food Program Press 4 for Food Distribution Program Press 5 for Education and Nutrition Policy Press 6 for CNIPS Help Desk Press 7 for Reception

The last day to submit August 2021 reimbursement claims in CNIPS is Monday, November 1, 2021.

In person trainings are not occurring due to COVID-19. Please see other options available in the Training Section below.

CNIPS Maintenance occurs Fridays from 2 PM to 5 PM. System may not be available during this time frame.

Need Help?

• Can't login? Please use the Forgot Your Password? link to the left for login issues. If you are still unable to login please contact the CNIPS Helpdesk at cnips@cde.ca.gov. 

  
  

Change In Payment Timeframes

• The State of California is implementing a new automated system, the Financial Information System of California (FI$Cal), which will impact the timing of claim reimbursements.  Beginning in the month of July, claim reimbursements may be paid up to ten calendar days later than they are currently paid.  The meal claiming processes within CNIPS will be unaffected by these changes.  For questions, please contact your assigned fiscal analyst.
  

  
  

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

• Effective July 1, 2021, the CACFP and program staff were transferred to the California Department of Social Services. For more information, please contact your CACFP County Specialist. The updated County Specialist list is in the CNIPS Download Forms section: CACFP—Form ID CACFP 01.
  
  User access to CNIPS will remain the same.
  
   
  
  

School Nutrition Program (SNP)

• The COVID-19 Guidance in Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs) web page- The Nutrition Services Division is assisting program operators of the CNPs during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing: the federal and state policy waivers, information on how to operate the CNPs, claiming and reimbursement information, frequently asked questions and more. We encourage you to visit and utilize the COVID-19 Guidance in CNPs web page.

  
  

• The 2020-2021 fiscal year (FY) is now open. If any changes need to be made in the 2019-20 FY application packet or claim submissions, please select the appropriate school year from the Applications menu.
  
  

• Annual Audit Status Certification (AASC) Form

  Public School Districts, Government Entities (County Offices of Education, County Probation Offices, etc), and Charter Schools do NOT have to complete the Annual Audit Status Certification (AASC) form, this is only a requirement for all private sponsors, including Indian Tribal Councils, private schools, and Private Residential Child Care Institutions (group homes).

  
  

• SNP Administrative Review (AR) Web Page

  The CDE Nutrition Services Division conducts an administrative review (AR) of all district/agencies participating in SNP over a three-year cycle. Keep up-to-date on the latest AR requirements, resources, and helpful tips by visiting the new CDE SNP AR Web page.

  
  

Claims

• All Programs
  The point-of-contacts for SNP, CACFP, and SFSP claims have been revised. The current contact list can be located on the CDE’s Nutrition Services web page by selecting the Analyst Directory tab.
  

  
  

• The Child Nutrition Fiscal Services is performing Post Close Out. Please be advised that the CNIPS FY 2016/2017 claim module will remain locked until further notice.
  

Training

• Child Nutrition Programs COURSE CATALOG web page- The NSD provides a web page that houses online training courses to help program operators participating in the Child Nutrition Programs meet their professional development and program compliance needs. The web page is a one-stop shop for all online courses that the NSD offers. The online courses are grouped by program and organized by the key areas of nutrition, operations, administration, and communication and marketing. We encourage you to browse and use the Child Nutrition Programs Course Catalog web page.

  
  

• Child Nutrition Programs RESOURCE LIBRARY web page- The NSD is providing a library of online resources for program operators participating in the School Nutrition Program (SNP), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). These resources are made available to assist program operators with career development, compliance needs, and to enhance their Child Nutrition Programs (CNP). Topics include recipes, nutrition education, and cooking in the classroom. We are working to update it often with new resources. We encourage you to browse and use the Child Nutrition Programs Resources Library web page.
  
  
  
  

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

• Important Changes to Application Packet Submission Deadlines

  Effective October 1, 2019, the California Department of Education will require that all new Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) applicants and returning sponsors submit complete and correct SFSP application packets through the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System no later than 30 calendar days prior to the first SFSP meal service day, or May 15, whichever comes first. These deadlines do not apply to sponsors applying to serve in areas impacted by an unanticipated school closure during the period from October through April (or at any time of the year in an area with a continuous school calendar).

  For more information, please see the Management Bulletin SFSP-03-2019 Summer Food Service Program Application Deadlines web page.

  Please contact your Summer Meal Programs Specialist or email SFSP@cde.ca.gov if you have any questions regarding the new deadlines.

  
  
  
  

Food Distribution Program

• USDA Foods Processor Summary End Product Data Schedules (SEPDS) can be found in the Food Distribution Module, under Download Forms.
  
  

CNIPS Maintenance and Password Requirements

• CNIPS is routinely taken down on Friday for Production. The maintenance window is from 2-5 PM. The system is reactivated as soon as the maintenance is complete.

  Your CNIPS password must be between EIGHT (8) and TWELVE (12) characters in length, contain a letter, a number, and a special character (e.g., @,#,$, &,*). We suggest you not use the number "0" or the capital letter "O" in your password to reduce confusion when trying to remember your information. Do not reuse old passwords.