Each biennium, the state legislature appropriates funding for the school meal programs. This funding is the breakfast meal assistance for free and reduced-price breakfast meals and the reduced-price co-pay for breakfast and lunch.
OSPI will be using the remaining balances of those accounts to support all those approved to operate the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or Seamless Summer Option (SSO) during the COVID-19 unanticipated school closures in April 2020.
Here is the necessary actions needed for sponsors to receive those additional state funds.
- Public School Districts should ensure the March 2020 claim is submitted by May 15, 2020 so that you have an opportunity to receive these funds for the days the SBP and NSLP were operated in March.
- All sponsors should ensure the April 2020 claim is submitted by May 15, 2020. We will be using SFSP and SSO meals served April 2020 data to distribute the remaining state fiscal year 2020 funds.
Child Nutrition Services must have this funding distributed before the state fiscal year ends on June 30, 2020. State dollars will not be available for original/revised claims after May 15, 2020.
Questions? Please email the fiscal team – Hydie Kidd, Fiscal Supervisor, or Pam Fravel, Fiscal Analyst.
Is your school district moving to an online format for summer school due to COVID-19? If so, please note that the same summer meal service requirements still apply.
Who must provide summer meals?
Schools in the district offering summer programs of academic, enrichment, or remedial services and have 50% or more of the children enrolled in the school qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. (RCW 28A.235.160)
In school districts where summer meal service is required and all summer programming is offered online, at least one school or alternative site location in the community must be designated to provide a summer breakfast and lunch program to children 18 and under in the community, regardless of their participation in school programming during the summer.
Exemptions are provided by OSPI on a case-by-case basis and must be approved in advance.
Who else can provide summer meals?
Any school district can serve summer meals to kids at any school or site where 50% or more of the children living in the area qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This can be determined using school data or census data.
Questions? Please contact your Program Specialist.
All public school districts and private schools must conduct outreach for summer meals each school year as required by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The outreach is to advertise the availability of summer meals before the end of the school year. Even if there won’t be a summer feeding program in your community, you must share resources that allow households to locate summer meals in the area.
Outreach includes distributing location, meal times, and contact information through your regular communication channels.
The USDA provides a number of resources, in both English and Spanish, to raise awareness in your community.
- USDA Summer Meals Hotline at 1-866-348-6479. Families will receive assistance to find the location, meal times, and contact information for summer meals based on their full address, city, and/or zip code.
- USDA Summer meals finder at www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks. This website is easy for families to use as they can access summer meals locations by entering their zip code.
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USDA Summer Meals Toolkit, provides multiple tools and resources.
Families may also text "Food" or "Comida" to 877-877 to find free summer meals near them.
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service released two new Team Nutrition resources that address meal service flexibilities during the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. Regional offices and State agencies are encouraged to share these resources with Child Nutrition Program operators. Both resources are available for download from the Team Nutrition website.
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues, operations and guidance is frequently changing. To assist with your questions and to share important information, we are continuing our weekly webinars held on Wednesdays at 2pm.
Register Here
We have tentatively set up meetings until the end of May. Please keep an eye out for future CNS Updates for any changes.
Applying for SFSP
OSPI Child Nutrition Services is pleased to announce that the 2020 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) online application and bulletins are now available for new sponsors, returning sponsors, and sponsors transitioning from emergency feeding.
SFSP New Sponsor Application
SFSP Returning Sponsor Application
SFSP Sponsors Transitioning from Emergency Meal Service
NOTE: If sponsor a chooses to transition from emergency meal service to the traditional summer program, the sponsor must extend the summer program that they are currently approved for. Sponsors are unable to switch summer programs for the duration of the school year, once a claim has been filed.
Please visit OSPI's Bulletin webpage to read the bulletins and corresponding attachments in detail.
For more information, please review the 5/4 School Meals Weekly Newsletter.
Questions? Please email summermeals@k12.wa.us
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Application for School Year 2020-21 is now open!
The application deadline for participation in school year 2020-21 is May 30, 2020. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
Application Process
Starting this year, your application will be submitted using the Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS)! You can review the Applying for FFVP Using WINS recorded training to better understand this process.
For more information, please review the 5/4 School Meals Weekly Newsletter.
Questions? Please email Rachel Floyd or call 360-742-4155.
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The Organizations Providing Meals During COVID-19 Shutdown Map is an interactive map that connects families to district and organization websites for more information regarding meal services near them.
NOTE: This map only works on modern browsers such as Firefox, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge; it will not work on Internet Explorer.
Have updates? Email Mikhail.Cherniske@k12.wa.us
Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a balanced meal and a required meal pattern component.
Join the School Nutrition Association (SNA) and United Fresh Produce Association for a highlight on how school nutrition programs are sourcing and serving fresh produce, and how produce companies are working with school nutrition customers and supply chain partners during this unprecedented time.
Register Here
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2020 Time: 11am - 12pm PT
You do not have to be a SNA member to attend this free webinar! Just select the 'Non-Members Click Here to Create an Account' option in the middle of the screen.
May 13
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Weekly School Meals and Summer Programs Sponsors Call - 2pm | Register Here
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May 15
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April Claims Due in WINS
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May 30
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Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) Applications Due in WINS
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June 14
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USDA Foods Application for SY 2020-21 Due in CNP
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June 30
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Make sure to use all your DoD Fresh Entitlement!
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August 31
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Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Applications Due in WINS
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