National Program Evaluation and Reporting System (N-PEARS)

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) launched the National Program Evaluation and Reporting System (N-PEARS) on May 22, 2023 for FY 2024 State plans and on November 27, 2023 for FY 2023 Annual Reports. N-PEARS is a result of a broad strategic initiative to improve SNAP-Ed data collection and reporting. N-PEARS represents updates to SNAP-Ed State plan and data collection requirements that support FNS’s vision of high-quality, accessible national program data and allows for an improved understanding of program effectiveness and accountability.

N-PEARS provides all State and implementing agencies with a single, streamlined, web-based tool for submitting annual SNAP-Ed State plans and consolidated annual reports. N-PEARS replaced previous SNAP-Ed planning and annual reporting processes beginning with FY 2024 State plans and FY 2023 annual reports.

As directed by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (“2018 Farm Bill”, Pub. L. 115-334, PDF, 1.4MB), FNS, with input from multiple stakeholders, worked to improve the SNAP-Ed data reporting process by providing States with a robust electronic, online reporting system. In June 2021, using funds authorized in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, FNS entered into a cooperative agreement with the Kansas State University Research Foundation (KSURF) to develop and maintain N-PEARS. N-PEARS is managed by FNS in conjunction with KSURF and their subcontractor Canopy, LLC, the N-PEARS system developer.

PEARS Memo June 2021

N-PEARS Memo May 2023

N-PEARS Annual Report Launch Memo
- FNS provides States and implementing agencies free access to N-PEARS to submit State plans and annual reports.
- N-PEARS replaces SNAP-Ed State plan and report submission processes beginning with FY 2024 plans and FY 2023 reports.
- States should continue using existing processes for all other SNAP State Plans of Operation and data submission.
- FNS offers live virtual support sessions, pre-recorded training videos, and other support opportunities for all users.
  - Pre-recorded videos provide a basic overview of N-PEARS.

Recorded Trainings

Training	Broadcast date	View
Getting Started on the FY 23 Annual Report	November 14, 2023	Getting Started Training
Module 1: Project and Activity Results	November 28, 2023	Module 1 Training
Modules 2 & 3: Evaluation Reports and Success Stories	December 5, 2023	Modules 2 & 3 Training
Modules 4, 5, & 7: Challenges & Modifications, Coordination & Collaboration, and Executive Summary	December 12, 2023	Modules 4,5, & 7 Training
Module 6: Financial Reporting	December 19, 2023	Module 6 Training
Plan Setup; Target Audience and Needs Assessment; and the SNAP-Ed Action Plan	May 1, 2024	Training 1 Recording
Planned Projects and Activities	May 8, 2024	Training 2 Recording
Plan Evaluation, Coordination and Collaboration	May 15, 2024	Training 3 Recording
Staffing and Budget	May 22, 2024	Training 4 Recording

- The Canopy Client Success Team will be the point of contact for system user support.
  - Phone: 785-789-3199; Email: support@pears.io
- The N-PEARS Support page has more information for State agencies, implementing agencies, and SNAP-Ed Regional Coordinators.
  - https://support.national.pears.io/
- State and implementing agencies may continue to use their existing systems to track and manage data throughout the year prior to submission in N-PEARS. The SNAP-Ed Data Collection Template is an optional resource available to agencies to aid in data collection and tracking that aligns with N-PEARS.
- Read answers to frequently asked questions.
- N-PEARS State Plan Form
- N-PEARS Annual Report Form
Additional Resources
- For SNAP-Ed program administration updates and announcements, subscribe to the SNAP-Ed Connection newsletter and visit the N-PEARS page on the SNAP-Ed Connection.
- For N-PEARS questions and support, visit the N-PEARS support documentation page.

SNAP-Ed Plan Process Changes

Item	Previous process	New process
SNAP-Ed State Plan	State and implementing agencies used templates from the SNAP-Ed Guidance to draft their plans. State agencies then submitted the plans in PartnerWeb for FNS review and approval.	State and implementing agencies draft and submit plan modules in N-PEARS for FNS review and approval.
Annual plan submission deadline	August 15	No change
Plan amendments	State and implementing agencies’ plan amendments emailed to FNS by May 1	State and implementing agencies’ plan amendments submitted in N-PEARS by May 1

SNAP-Ed Report Process Changes

Item	Previous Process	New Process
Annual Report	State agencies emailed reports to FNS by January 31	State and implementing agencies complete annual report modules and submit them into N-PEARS by January 31
Education and Administrative Reporting System (EARS) form (FNS-759)	State agencies submitted through Food Program Reporting System (FPRS) by December 31	The EARS form is discontinued. States and implementing agencies submit program data into N-PEARS annual report modules by January 31
Federal Financial Report form (SF-425)	State agencies submitted through FPRS quarterly	No change
Unobligated funds report	State agencies informed FNS of prior year's allocation amounts they do not plan to obligate by December 31	No change

SNAP-Ed Connection

Administration

Training

Resources

National Program Evaluation and Reporting System (N-PEARS)

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