The Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s School Nutrition Program follows Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Food and Nutrition’s Procedures for Food and Nutrition Services Civil Rights Complaints.

Procedure for Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) Civil Rights Complaints

Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Food and Nutrition

April 2, 2026

1. When a sponsor receives a civil rights complaint

When a sponsor receives a civil rights complaint from a complainant (for example, a parent), the sponsor must follow the procedures below.

A. Inform the complainant about federal civil rights protections

The sponsor must inform the complainant of federal civil rights rules and regulations for protected classes. These protections prohibit discrimination based on:

  1. Race
  2. Color
  3. National origin
  4. Age
  5. Sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation)
  6. Disability

B. Provide information about filing a complaint

The sponsor must give the complainant the following information for filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Mailing address

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

Contact information

Online complaint information

Filing a Program Discrimination Complaint as a USDA Customer

Note: If the sponsor is unsure whether the complaint falls under a protected class, the sponsor should still provide the complainant with the federal complaint information.

C. Attempt to resolve the complaint, when appropriate

After providing information about filing a civil rights complaint at the federal level, the sponsor may attempt to resolve the complaint if it is a matter that can be resolved quickly. Resolving complaints in real time at the lowest possible level is encouraged.

Important: This is not an investigation. Neither the sponsor nor the State Agency has the authority to conduct complaint investigations. This step is an attempt to resolve a situation that may have resulted from a miscommunication.

If the complaint cannot be resolved quickly

If the complainant declines further discussion with the sponsor, or the matter cannot be resolved quickly, the sponsor should:

  1. Reiterate the federal complaint filing procedures listed in Section 1B.
  2. Document the complaint and actions taken, including any referral to the federal complaint procedures, in a civil rights complaint log that is separate from other complaint logs. A separate log is necessary due to confidentiality and privacy laws. See Section 1D for log requirements.
  3. Notify the State Agency of the discussion. Regular communication between the sponsor and State Agency is important to successful program operation.

If the complaint is resolved with the sponsor

If the complainant agrees to work toward a resolution with the sponsor and a satisfactory resolution is reached, the sponsor should still remind the complainant of the right to file a complaint at the federal level using the information in Section 1B. This right remains in effect even when the complaint appears to have been resolved locally.

The sponsor must also document the complaint and the actions taken to achieve the resolution in a separate civil rights complaint log, and notify the State Agency of the resolution.

D. Document and forward the complaint

Regardless of whether the complainant chooses to file at the federal level, the sponsor should record as much information as possible in the separate civil rights complaint log, including:

  • Date the complaint was received
  • Complainant’s name
  • Complainant’s address
  • Complainant’s telephone number
  • Complainant’s email address
  • Allegation of discrimination or issue, including the FNS program and protected class or classes involved
  • Date of the alleged discriminatory action

Complaint referral and review process

  1. Within five days of receiving the complaint: The sponsor must forward the complaint information to the State Agency Civil Rights Coordinator.
  2. Within five days of receiving the complaint from the sponsor: The State Agency must forward the complaint information to the FNS Regional Office.
  3. Complaint routing: The complaint proceeds through the State Agency Civil Rights Coordinator, State Agency Director, FNS Regional Office Civil Rights Contact, FNS Headquarters Civil Rights Office, and complainant, as depicted in the source procedure.
  4. Review and investigation: The FNS team conducts the complaint review and investigation, including contact with the complainant, State Agency, sponsor, and others as appropriate.

2. Additional information

  • Filing deadline: Complainants must file within 180 days of the alleged action.
  • Confidentiality: Confidentiality is extremely important.

USDA complaint forms

  • English: U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form
  • Spanish: Departamento de Agricultura de los EE. UU. (USDA) Formulario de Denuncia por Discriminación del Programa del USDA

For complaint filing information and available forms, visit the USDA complaint resolution page.

State Agency Civil Rights Coordinator contacts

Email the State Agency Civil Rights Coordinator about all civil rights complaints, including disability-related complaints, using the appropriate program address:

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