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.
OSPI Bulletin No. 28-20 Summer Food Service Program New Sponsor Application
OSPI Bulletin No. 26-20 Summer Food Service Program Returning Sponsor Application
OSPI Bulletin No. 34-20 Summer Food Service Program 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.
COVID-19 Response
At this time, the waivers that adjust SFSP and SSO operations in response to COVID-19 only extend through June 30, 2020.
Based on current guidance, traditional SFSP/ Seamless Summer Option (SSO) requirements, including congregate feeding, would be required for operation during the summer months. OSPI is requesting waiver extensions. However, a plan should be made for summer operations to follow normal site rules and regulations.
Seamless Summer Option
Sponsors intending to operate the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) or extend the National School Lunch/ Breakfast Program must contact their program specialist for application information.
Questions? Please email summermeals@k12.wa.us
Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released two policy memos related to School Meals and Summer Programs.
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COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #18 – Nationwide Waiver of Local School Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment
- The School Wellness Policy triennial assessment was originally set to be due by June 30, 2020.
- This waiver allows LEA to have a different deadline - the first assessment is June 21, 2020; a second triennial assessment must be completed and submitted by June 30, 2024.
- This waiver will be elected by WA State.
- You must inform OSPI CNS if your district chooses to implement this waiver by June 30, 2020.
- If your district completed their first assessment or is prepared to complete the assessment, USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) encourages to complete your assessment by original June 30 deadline.
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COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #19 - Nationwide Waiver of Duration of Food Service Management Contracts in the National School Lunch Program and Summer Food Service Program
- This waiver allows Food Service Management Company (FSMC) contracts that expire around June 30, 2020 to be extended through school year 2020-2021; the contract extension is limited to one year only.
- If your district would like to participate in this waiver, please email Jeff Booth.
- This waiver expires September 30, 2020.
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COVID 19: Child Nutrition Response #21 - Nationwide Waiver to Extend Unanticipated School Closure Operations through June 30, 2020
- This memo waives the October through April time limitation for unanticipated school closures.
- The intent of this waiver allows program operators to operate under current unanticipated school closure requirements (regardless of their current closure status) through June 30, 2020.
- This waiver does not prevent state agencies and program operators from implementing SFSP and SSO requirements prior to June 30, 2020.
- Washington state will participate in this waiver.
Questions? Please contact your program specialist.
Sponsors must complete and submit a Food Distribution Sponsor Application annually to receive USDA foods.
Submitting your Application
- Review the Sponsor Application Instructions - they describe how to review, update and submit your application
- Log in to CNP Web.
- Submit your application by June 14, 2020.
IMPORTANT: You will not be able to place USDA Food orders until the application is submitted and approved.
CNP Staff Accounts
Do you need a staff member added to CNP? Or maybe need a previous staff members account deactivated?
Complete and return a USDA Foods User Authorization form for any personnel changes throughout the year.
Delivery Location or Contact Person
Notify us if there are any changes to the delivery location or delivery contact person. You can request those changes to be made here, on the Delivery Form.
Questions? Please email Trisha Santee or call 360-725-6204.
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Application for School Year 2020-21 is now open!
OSPI recently published B023-20 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Application Packet School Year 2020-21. The FFVP provides a fresh fruit or vegetable snack to elementary school students and is an effective and creative way to introduce fresh produce as a healthy snack option.
Funds are awarded to the highest free and reduced-price (FRP) percentage elementary schools. In the past four years, the FRP percentage cut-off has not been below 70%. We invite all schools that meet the eligibility requirements to apply for this grant.
There are two requirements for eligibility:
- 50% or more of the students enrolled in the school must be eligible for free or reduced price meals.
- The school must meet the definition of an elementary school; Pre-K/Kindergarten through grade 5 or a variation or, Pre-K/Kindergarten through grade 8.
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.
Questions? Please email Rachel Floyd or call 360-742-4155.
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As a follow up to the 2/3 School Meals Program Newsletter Release, regarding SP 07-2020: Paid Lunch Equity: Guidance for School Year 2020-21, OSPI CNS has released the School Year 2020-21 PLE Tool on our website.
To Locate the Tool
Go to the NSLP Program Application and Requirements webpage, under the Financial Managment dropdown for the updated tool.
Additional Information
The Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) tool is used to determine the weighted average paid lunch price. This tool determines the new paid lunch price or amount of non-federal funds that must be contributed to the non-profit school food service account (NSFSA).
Additionally, USDA will offer an exemption from the PLE pricing requirements to local education agencies with a positive or zero balance in the NSFSA as of December 31, 2019.
Questions? Please contact your program specialist.
Are you a current DoD participant?
Do you have remaining entitlement dollars? Do you need more funds in your DoD Fresh Fruit account?
DoD orders can be placed through June, fill out the 2019-20 DoD Allocation Adjustment Form to utilize your funds.
Note: Please only transfer entitlement funds you can utilize by June 30, 2020.
Questions? Email Sarah Davis, Orders, Surveys, and Entitlement contact.
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Child Nutrition Services (CNS) is required to annually notify local education agencies (LEAs) of their district-wide eligibility to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
The CEP Eligibility Report for SY 2020-21 identifies LEAs and individual schools in the following categories:
- Eligible to Participate - Identified student percentage (ISP) of at least 40 percent.
- Near Eligible to Participate – ISP greater than 30 percent but less than 40 percent (may be eligible to participate).
- LEAs currently participating in CEP in some capacity.
The District-Wide ISP was calculated by using data on the LEA Verification Summary Report for school year 2019-20. School level data was calculated using information from the Comprehensive Education Data and Research System (CEDARS) as of April 1, 2020.
USDA Waiver
With the new USDA Waiver, LEAs can select any date between April 1 and June 30 to use for calculating the Identified Student Percentage (ISP). This Eligibility Report was calculated using data from April 1. As direct certification rates increase, you may see an increase in your ISP as well.
We encourage you to monitor direct certification lists and consider selecting a date with the highest identified student percentage.
Want to Participate in CEP?
The reported ISP is an estimate. To receive approval, LEAs must calculate their actual ISP and submit source documentation, representative of a date between April 1 and June 30, 2020. ISP’s must be validated by CNS prior to approval to operate.
Applying for CEP
The CEP application is now completed in the Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS). For more information, please use these resources:
Please notify your program specialist if you intend to apply for CEP for the upcoming school year. CEP applications are due August 31, 2020.
Questions about the report? Please email Elizabeth Beechler, School Nutrition Programs Supervisor, or call 360-725-6220.
CEP questions? Please contact your program specialist.
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.
Conducting direct certification and determining eligibility from meal applications ensures the economic status of the district is reflected accurately.
Although students are not in school, it is a good idea to conduct direct certification and keep point of service meal counting systems up to date with free and reduced-price eligibility information.
Additionally, local education agencies with the capacity to distribute and approve free and reduced-price meal applications may consider outreach to households during the remaining months of the school year.
Direct Certification Benefits
Child Nutrition Services receives data from the Department of Health and Human Services (DSHS) daily. The number of student names coming from DSHS on a daily basis has sharply increased due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Students will begin school year 2020-21 in eligibility categories that may possibly prevent meal charges for the first 30 operating days of the new school year.
In addition, these changes can increase the district or school free and reduced-price percentages. This affects eligibility to participate in other Child Nutrition meal/snack programs for the 2020-21 school year and under area eligibility rules, for the next five years:
- Area eligibility for the Afterschool Snack Program
- CACFP At Risk Afterschool Meal Program
- Summer Food Service Program or Seamless Summer Option
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and Provision 2
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) considering participation or already participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2 may see an increase in the number of directly certified students. This may allow schools previously not eligible to participate in these programs. Additionally, participating schools may now be able to participate at a higher free claiming percentage rate. Reapplying will ensure the higher rate for another four years.
Questions? Please contact your program specialist.
The National Farm to School Network is adapting their work during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep supporting the farm to school and farm to early care and education (ECE) community in this rapidly changing and challenging environment.
As part of those efforts, they’re shifting their resources to create a COVID-19 Relief Fund to aid our Partners, networks, and Native communities in continuing their important work during this difficult time.
Any organization working to support farm to school / farm to ECE efforts is eligible to apply, with priority being given to current NFSN Core and Supporting Partners, as well as organizations serving American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian populations within urban, rural and tribal jurisdictions (including schools, farmers/producers and community-based organizations and Tribal entities).
Apply Here by May 10, 2020
Have questions or need help with your application? Email Bianca Smith.
Safety is the top priority for OSPI CNS at this time. As a result, we are updating the format for upcoming trainings:
- Upcoming PrimeroEdge Menu Planning and Nutrient Analysis Software - Going virtual
- East Side of the State Orientation to School Nutrition Management - Postponed
- Annual Training - Going virtual
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) Annual Training - Going virtual
More information will be released as it becomes available.
May 6
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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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