- Important Dates and Deadlines
- Memos
- Civil Rights Contact Number Updated
- SFSP Renewal Reminders
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Closed Enrolled Sites and Credit Recovery Programs
- Offer Versus Serve in the SFSP
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Non-Congregate Feeding Resources - For sponsors offering non-congregate meal service only
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What are Bulk Meals? - For sponsors offering non-congregate meal service only
- Sourcing Local Foods for Summer Meals
- Great Oregon Road Trip
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SFSP Marketing Materials - Repeat article
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Start-Up and Expansion Grant - Repeat article
- Self-Certification Process for a Higher Micro-Purchase Threshold
- Growing Gardens Summit Podcast
- Team Update: Darcy is Retiring!
- Contact Us
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August 29, 2024: June 2023 Claim Due
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September 29, 2024: July 2023 Claim Due
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October 30, 2024: August Claim Due
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Check out the SFSP Memo Page for a list of all memos and announcements.
ODE CNP has updated the ODE CNP Civil Rights contact information on the Civil Rights page.
The phone number has been updated on the page and the Civil Rights Complaint Forms. The updated number is bolded in the contact information below.
To file a Child Nutrition Programs complaint of discrimination with the State of Oregon, please send an email to ODE.CNPCivilRights@ode.oregon.gov, or reach out to:
Director of Child Nutrition Programs,
Oregon Department of Education,
255 Capitol Street NE,
Salem, OR 97310
or call (503) 339-6821, (voice)
or (503) 378-2892(TDD).
Sponsors of all Child Nutrition Programs must update the Civil Rights Complaint Forms available at all sites.
ODE CNP's SFSP Renewal Applications were due on April 19, 2024. If you have not been approved already, your assigned Child Nutrition Specialist and the ODE CNP Community Team will continue to work with you to get your application approved over the next few weeks.
Take this time to review your application and make sure that it is complete. All sponsors are required to complete the following:
Additionally, some sponsors may be required to complete the following:
- Offline Sponsor Budget (available in the Packet Tab of CNPweb)
- Vended Meal Agreement (available in the Packet Tab of CNPweb)
- Rural Non-Congregate Meal Distribution Plan
- Area Eligibility Documentation
- Site Proximity Documentation
Information on these requirements is available on the Fiscal Year 2024 Summer Food Program Participant Renewal Memos (Community Based, School Food Authorities). Each memo includes an enclosure at the bottom of the memo with specific renewal instructions.
Specialists will review completed applications and reach out to sponsors with requests for additional information or changes to the application along with a due date. Each Specialist is assigned to multiple sponsors, so it may take some time before your Specialist is ready to work with you on your application. If you need to make updates to your application while you are waiting for the Specialist to review it, please reach out to them and ask for the specific CNPweb applications to be sent back into Needs Correction status.
Once your application is approved, sponsors must continue to update their application when circumstances change. This can include staffing changes, such as site supervisor changes, meal time or meal service changes, site closures, new field trip dates, site CAP changes, and any other relevant program changes.
Open sites will be posted on the Summer Meals Map and ODE CNP recommends that all site updates are completed and approved in the Site Info Sheet at least two weeks prior in order for the map to be updated before the affected date. As a reminder, all updates must be approved by ODE CNP prior to implementation.
Sponsors who are operating closed enrolled sites are not allowed to offer SFSP to credit recovery/summer school programs at those sites.
Per 7 CFR 225.14(d)(2), sponsors can only offer SFSP at sites providing summer school sessions when they are open to all children residing in the area served by the site. This means that sponsors offering SFSP at a site that serves participants taking part in credit recovery and/or grade advancement programs must operate the site as an open site in order to claim SFSP meals for those participants.
Summer school in this instance does not apply to enrichment activities such as 'kindergarten jump starts' or arts and crafts activities, instead, it refers to academic summer school programs which are often referred to as credit recovery or grade advancement.
Many sites offer a combination of both enrichment activities and credit recovery activities. While sites may claim SFSP meals served to participants taking part in enrichment activities at a closed enrolled site, participants taking part in credit recovery and/or grade advancement activities cannot be served under SFSP.
For schools that want to offer credit recovery programs in a restricted setting, sponsors can consider offering meals through the NSLP and SBP. Additional information on Summer Feeding Options can be found in the SFSP 04-2013-Revised Memo.
To discuss your options, reach out to your assigned Child Nutrition Specialist.
Under 7 CFR 225.16(f)(1)(ii), the use of Offer Versus Serve (OVS) in the Summer Food Service Program is limited to school food authorities (SFAs). However, on March 22, 2024, ODE CNP received waiver approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to extend the OVS meal service option to non-school food authority (non-SFA)/community-based sponsors on a case-by-case basis.
With this waiver, the requirement that OVS is limited to SFAs only has been waived by USDA FNS for approved SFSP sites between May 1, 2024 and September 30, 2024. This waiver only applies to congregate meals sites for non-SFA sponsors.
Sponsors opting into the OVS meal service option must be in good standing and be approved by ODE CNP for OVS at the site level prior to implementation. The SFSP OVS meal service parameters are listed below:
Breakfast
- The following 4 food items must be offered:
- One serving of fruit/vegetable,
- One serving of bread/bread alternate,
- One serving of fluid milk, and
- One additional serving of fruit/vegetable, bread/bread alternate, or a serving of a meat/meat alternate.
- All the food items offered must be different from each other.
- A child must take at least 3 of any of the 4 food items offered and may choose to take all 4 items.
Lunch or Supper
- The following 4 food components must be offered through at least 5 different food items:
- One serving of meat/meat alternate,
- Two servings of fruit and/or vegetables (two different food items),
- One serving of bread/bread alternate, and
- One serving of fluid milk.
- All the food items offered must be different from each other.
- A child must take at least 3 food components and may choose to take all items.
Lunch or supper OVS requirements differ from breakfast in that a child must take at least three food components, rather than items, listed above from the five food items offered. At least three food components are required for an adequate nutritious meal for children.
Offering two servings of the same food item is not permissible under OVS in SFSP. All food items offered must be different from each other. For example, a breakfast menu that includes a serving of milk, a serving of fruit, and two servings of toast is not a reimbursable meal under OVS in SFSP because the toast is two of the same food item. Similarly, if the breakfast menu included two different kinds of cereal rather than toast, it would still not be a reimbursable meal because the cereals, although not identical, are the same food item. Additionally, a larger food item that is worth two servings in weight, such as a two-ounce muffin, counts as only one food item under OVS in SFSP, not two.
OVS signage is required at all sites electing to utilize OVS. Offering OVS is not intended to be a way to circumvent the meal pattern. Sponsors that elect to utilize OVS must have systems in place to ensure that there are enough meal components ordered and offered to ensure that all participants may select a reimbursable meal from all meal components. Sponsors must maintain all food and milk purchase documentation as these may be requested during an administrative review.
If you have questions about OVS and summer operations, review the ODE CNP Memo on Offer-Versus-Serve (OVS) for Non-School Food Authority (Non-SFA) Sponsors of the Summer Food Service Program for FY 2024 or reach out to your assigned Child Nutrition Specialist.
On April 4, 2024 ODE CNP hosted the Non-Congregate Meals in Rural Areas webinar. Viewing the Non-Congregate Meals in Rural Areas webinar is required for sponsors that intend to serve non-congregate Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) meals in summer 2024.
This webinar is now available on the SFSP Training Center webpage and the direct link to the training is available here. Additionally, Summer 2023 Non-Congregate Questions and Answers are available under “Handbooks, Manuals, and Regulation” on the SFSP website. Non-Congregate Operations in Summer 2024 Training and Questions and Answers, which was developed from questions received during the live webinar, is available on the Memos and News Announcements page.
USDA released its first Q&A on February 21, 2024 regarding non-congregate meal service in rural areas with memo SFSP 07-2024. On March 27, 2024, USDA released a second Q&A on the same topic with memo 08-2024. These Q&As along with SFSP 03-2024: Implementation Guidance for the Rural Non-congregate Option Provisions of the Interim Final Rule, Establishing the Summer EBT and Rural Non-Congregate Option in Summer Meal Programs released on January 12, 2024 make up the main federal guidance available on non-congregate feeding at this time. Additional guidance may become available later in the year and guidance may change in future years.
For more information on non-congregate feeding, please reach out to your assigned Child Nutrition Specialist.
This article is for sponsors operating non-congregate meal service only.
The term bulk meals may conjure up images of open bins in a grocery store full of raw products, but in SFSP, the term refers specifically to meals that are not unitized for individual servings, but instead are served in a larger quantity. Examples of bulk food items include gallon jugs of milk instead of individually packaged cartons of milk, or loaves of bread instead of individual slices of bread.
Bulk meals are only allowed for sponsors who are approved to serve non-congregate meal service for multi-day or multi-meal distribution. When offering bulk meals, sponsors must ensure:
- Required food components for each reimbursable meal are served.
- All food items that contribute to a reimbursable meal are clearly identifiable.
- Menus are provided and clearly indicate the food items and portion sizes for each reimbursable meal.
- Food preparation, such as heating or warming, is minimal.
Sponsors who wish to offer bulk meals must qualify for non-congregate meal service and complete a Meal Distribution Plan, or MDP (Excel file). The Bulk Meals section of the MDP must be completed. This section of the MDP will ask for the type of foods that will be included, the number of meals in each bulk meal pack, how reimbursable meals will be clearly identified, and sample menu documentation.
If you have questions regarding bulk meals, reach out to your assigned Child Nutrition Specialist.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture created a video on How to source Oregon foods in your Summer Food Service Program.
If your organization has Oregon Farm to Child Nutrition Program grant funds and are looking for ways to spend them, this is a great video to get some ideas brewing. If not, this is an enlightening peek into how to connect the kids you serve with local producers.
Big thanks to Misty Crawford (St. Helens SD), Anne Leavens (Central Point SD), Rikkilynn Starliper (Umatilla SD), and the producers they work with for participating in the creation of this helpful resource.
To get started on sourcing locally, please visit the Oregon Harvest for Schools website. For more information on Oregon Farm to CNP Grants, please visit the Oregon Farm to CNP main page or email farmtocnp@ode.oregon.gov.
Is your organization gearing up to raise awareness of summer meal availability in your community? ODE CNP wants to help promote SFSP kick-off and spike events around Oregon. If your organization is planning an event to raise awareness of the SFSP, please let us know! ODE CNP has a quick information gathering survey so we can help promote it, make plans to join festivities, and/or offer other support.
This is a repeat article.
 In 2023, OSU Food Hero developed new designs for promotional materials related to the Summer Food Service Program. The Summer Meals- Summer Food Service Program page offers files for both printed and electronic materials. To assist in promoting the program ahead of summer, the site has letter and email templates to promote the program to families. There are also designs for items such as shirts, coffee mugs, and other materials.
After careful consideration and guidance from USDA, ODE will no longer be offering printed promotional materials for the Summer Food Service Program. On a brighter note, however, OSU Food Hero is excited to be able to assist Summer Meal Sponsors in fulfilling their Summer Meal promotional material needs. If your organization would like to order SFSP Promotional materials at a reduced bulk cost by partnering with other SFSP sponsors, please email food.hero@oregonstate.edu. Additionally, sponsors are encouraged to apply for the Startup and Expansion Grant for the Summer and After School At-Risk Meals to assist in covering costs associated with the printing of SFSP promotional material.
This is a repeat article.
Application submissions are still being accepted for the Start-Up and Expansion Grants for At-Risk Afterschool, Seamless Summer Option (SSO), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)! For the 2023-2025 biennium, grant applications will be accepted and evaluated on a rolling basis. Applications turned in will be evaluated on a monthly basis.
During the 2023-2025 biennium, ODE CNP has the opportunity to provide grants of up to $20,000 per grantee for the startup and/or expansion of the At-Risk Afterschool meal program, SSO and SFSP. To apply, review the Application Forms available on the ODE CNP Special Grants page.
Sponsors are encouraged to share this opportunity with their at-risk afterschool and summer meal partners. Questions regarding the grant or the RFA process can be submitted to the SUE Grant Question SmartSheet form.
On January 1st, 2024, a change in the State of Oregon’s procurement statutes created an opportunity for some Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors to be able to take advantage of a higher micro-purchase threshold for purchases under this program.
Previously, both the federal micro-purchase and State of Oregon small procurement thresholds were the same at $10,000. However, in the 2023 legislative session, Oregon passed Senate Bill 1047 which adjusted the Oregon Revised Statutes regarding the state’s small procurement method and set the threshold to $25,000. This change took effect on January 1st, 2024. This created a situation where sponsors of this federal program could take advantage of 2 CFR 200.320(a)(1)(iv) which allows non-federal entities to establish a threshold higher than the micro-purchase threshold identified in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
According to USDA Policy Memo SFSP 01-2022, program sponsors may self-certify a threshold up to $50,000 on an annual basis and must maintain documentation of such self-certification.
For the program sponsor to be able to do so, the self-certification must include a justification, clear identification of the threshold, and supporting documentation of any of the following:
(A) A qualification as a low-risk auditee, in accordance with the criteria in 2 CFR 200.520 for the most recent audit;
(B) An annual internal institutional risk assessment to identify, mitigate, and manage financial risks; or,
(C) For public institutions, a higher threshold consistent with State law.
With the passing of Senate Bill 1047, option C became effective for public institutions, and if the institution chooses to self-certify under this option, the more restrictive rule in this instance would be the state of Oregon’s small procurement threshold of $25,000.
Please note that option C is only available for SFSP Sponsors that are public entities, such as school districts, cities, or counties. Private nonprofit organizations who are SFSP sponsors are only potentially able to use options A or B to self-certify a higher micro-purchase threshold.
If an entity wishes to self-certify a higher threshold, those efforts must be fully documented based on the rules described above and listed in 2 CFR 200.320(a)(1). It is the program sponsor’s responsibility to determine and document an appropriate micro-purchase threshold based on internal controls, an evaluation of risk, and its documented procurement procedures. The organization’s procurement procedures and policies must be updated to reflect any changes made. If the sponsors internal procedures are not updated, the organization’s threshold may be the most restrictive if it reflects a value lower than the federal or state requirements.
Please direct any questions to Jared Puckett, Procurement Compliance Specialist at Jared.Puckett@ode.oregon.gov or 971-208-2407.
Join Rick Sherman from the Farm to Child Nutrition Program team "on assignment" as he travels to the Growing School Gardens Summit in San Diego, California. Rick interviews a dozen people with amazing stories. This is a four-part series and parts one through three are now available on the OSU Farm to School Podcast website.
Part 1 includes interviews with:
Part 2 includes interviews with:
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Kaitlyn Scheuermann, MPP-D, RDN, LD; Waukee Community School District, Waukee, Iowa
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Selma Sims, Gardeneers, Chicago, Illinois
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Pam Hosimer, University of Maryland Extension, Derwood, Maryland
Show notes, podcast transcripts, and more are now available!
Darcy Miller is retiring from state service at the end of April after more than 21 years with ODE Child Nutrition Programs (CNP). Many sponsors in Oregon know and appreciate Darcy's expertise in all matters Child Nutrition along with her candor and genuine care for all her coworkers and sponsors. Darcy helped to expand participation in the At-Risk Afterschool program in Oregon and over the years has been a pillar of upholding program integrity through her keen eye for detail and ability to provide thorough yet accessible explanations.
Darcy has been kind enough to stay on part time with ODE CNP through October 1, 2024 to help out our team through this transition period. Darcy will be retaining a small caseload and sponsors who will be assigned to other Specialists have been notified.
After retirement, Darcy is looking forward to traveling, both domestically and abroad, as well as gardening and not waking up at 5 in the morning. Darcy says "I have genuinely enjoyed my time at ODE and my favorite memories come from meeting and working with sponsors. I am inspired and humbled by the important work all Oregon CNP sponsors do every day!"
The ODE CNP team will miss Darcy's friendship and can-do energy. Join us in wishing Darcy an amazing retirement and thanking her for spending just a little more time with us all.
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 Meghan Tschida, Community Team Manager
Deanna (DeDe) Poynor, Team Lead
Cathy Brock, Child Nutrition Specialist, Summer Food Service Program Outreach Coordinator
Sarah English, Child Nutrition Specialist
Eliza Kondo, Child Nutrition Specialist
Darcy Miller, Child Nutrition Specialist
Kaitlin Skreen, Child Nutrition Specialist
Shannon Smith, Child Nutrition Specialist
Shirley Wu, Child Nutrition Specialist
Teresa Murray, Fiscal & Audit Analyst
Emma Ahern, Program Analyst 1
Ashlie Berry, Program Analyst 1
Community Nutrition Emailbox
Visit us on the web ODE SFSP
Subscribe to this newsletter: SFSP Newsletter Subscription
Civil Rights
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 Complaint form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
- fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
- email:
program.intake@usda.gov
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