Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

SFSP Bulletin - July 2026

Alaska Department of Education & Early Development sent this bulletin at 07/17/2026 08:22 AM AKDT

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Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

July - 2026

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Division of Finance and Support Services
Child Nutrition Programs
P.O. Box 110500
Juneau, AK 99811

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USDA Policy, Information, and Implementation Memos

Sponsoring organizations and institutions are required by regulation to keep Bulletins, Instructions, and USDA Policy Memorandums for reference and to apply them immediately to the appropriate agency programs. Call Child Nutrition Programs if you need further clarification.

To view the USDA SFSP policy memos, visit: DEED Child Nutrition Programs website or the USDA Policy Memorandum webpage by clicking on the links provided.

Additional Topics

2026 Turnip the Beet! Awards

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Administration is pleased to share the 2026 Turnip the Beet! Nomination Packet. The Turnip the Beet! Award recognizes outstanding Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option sponsors across the nation who work hard to offer children high-quality meals that are appetizing, appealing, and nutritious during the summer months. This recognition supports Agriculture Secretary Rollins’ commitment to encouraging healthy choices, healthy outcomes, and healthy families. Please share this opportunity to apply for a Turnip the Beet! Award with your networks. Nominations must be sent by the State agency to the State Agency by no later than September 30, 2026.

Additionally, FNA will be hosting a webinar. Details below.
2026 Turnip the Beet Informational Webinar [MS Teams meeting link]
Date: July 23, 2026
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET

Please join FNA for an overview of the Turnip the Beet! Awards for State agencies and Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option sponsors. The session will cover alignment with USDA priorities, eligibility and award levels, the nomination and review process, along with resources and tips for submitting a strong nomination packet.

Turnip the Beet! Website

Summer Reading Challenge

The 2026 Summer Reading Challenge aims to build strong literacy skills, and, like summer meals, help ensure that children go back to school confident and prepared to learn. Participation is simple: From June 1 through September 4, children entering grades K-8 may read any 12 books and share a reflection to qualify for prizes, including a chance to visit Washington D.C.

Posting flyers at meal sites or sharing the Reading Log with children as they pick up their meals are easy ways to get started. Through partnerships with school and public libraries, sponsors can provide books for students to read while they eat their meals. Sponsors may also conduct book drives by asking members of the community to donate used books, or work with local literacy organizations, to provide books that students can take home with them. Lastly, some friendly competition (and future bragging rights) might be encouraged by highlighting the Summer Reading Challenge Leaderboard.

Let’s work together to make Second Lady Usha Vance’s 2026 Summer Reading Challenge a huge success.

Summer Reading Challenge Website

Claim Reminders:

The 2026 Claim Calendar is available here.

Sponsors may consolidate claims if the program operates:
- 10 days or less in the initial month of operation - combine with the claim for the following month (ex: May combined into June)
- 10 days or less in the final month of operation - combine with the previous month's claim (ex: August combined into July)
- Can only combine two months
May claims:
- 30-Day Claim Deadline: June 30
- 60-Day Claim Deadline: July 30
June claims:
- 30-Day Claim Deadline: July 30
- 60-Day Claim Deadline: August 29
July claims:
- 30-Day Claim Deadline: August 30
- 60-Day Claim Deadline: September 29

Summer Food Program Resources

USDA's Summer Food Service Page
SUN Programs Communications Toolkit | Food and Nutrition Service
USDA TEAM Nutrition - An initiative of the USDA Food and Nutrition Administration to support the Child Nutrition Programs through training and technical assistance
Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) - Provides training opportunities for all Child Nutrition Programs
SFSP Administration Guide | Food and Nutrition Administration
Summer Meals Nutrition Guide | Food and Nutrition Administration
DEED eLearning Training
Team Nutrition Recipes
DEED Traditional Foods and Donated Fish and Game Resources
USDA Food Safety
USDA Capacity Builder
USDA Summer Meal Site Finder
USDA Rural Designation Map
USDA Area Eligibility Mapper
Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs

Contact Us

EED CNP Summer Meals	eed.cnp.summer@alaska.gov
EED CNP School Meals	eed.cnp.schoolmeals@alaska.gov
EED CNP CACFP Meals	eed.cnp.cacfp@alaska.gov
EED CNP Grants	eed.cnp.grants@alaska.gov
EED CNP Food Distribution	eed.cnp.fdp@alaska.gov
EED CNP FFV Program	eed.cnp.ffvp@alaska.gov
EED CNP TEFAP	eed.cnp.tefap@alaska.gov
EED CNP Farm to School	eed.cnp.fts@alaska.gov
EED CNP Financial Management	eed.cnp.fm@alaska.gov

Disclaimer

This newsletter contains hyperlinks to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the reader’s convenience. DEED does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Furthermore, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement (English)

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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