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Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released SP01, CACFP01, SFSP01-21: Questions and Answers Relating to the Nationwide Wavier to Allow Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option Operations through SY20-21 - Q&As #2. This memo reviews common questions regarding the operations of Summer Meal Programs during the 20-21 school year.
This memo comes after USDA released a press release and multiple waivers to allow sponsors to operate Summer Meal Programs through the SY20-21. We released a CNS Update outlining the waivers available.
OSPI CNS is awaiting USDA guidance and will release additional information as it becomes available. Please join us for our food services webinar on Wednesday at 2pm PT.
The Direct Certification Medicaid (DCM) list for school year 2020-21 is available in the Education Data System (EDS).
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can applications with Medicaid ID numbers be accepted?
Applications with Medicaid ID numbers may NOT be accepted and eligibility may NOT be approved for free or reduced-price meals. The DCM list in the Education Data System is the only method to approve students for free or reduced-price meals for Medicaid.
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Are all Medicaid categories eligible for direct certification?
Not all Medicaid categories are directly certified. The only certified Medicaid programs are:
- Those with income eligibility similar to the school meal program Income Eligibility Guidelines. Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is 133% for free meals and 185% for reduced-price meals.
- Those requiring income verification upon application for the Medicaid Program. There are just three Medicaid programs in Washington state that verify income. These are Categorically Needy Children’s Medicaid under 19 programs.
Children’s Health Insurance Programs and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are not eligible for DCM. The income eligibility for these programs is generally higher than the USDA Income Eligibility Guidelines. However, any household may apply for free and reduced-price meals via meal application with household size and income.
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What if there is an approved application on file for free meals and the student is on the DCM list for reduced-price meals?
The student will remain eligible for free meals. Local Education Agencies (LEAs) must ensure electronic systems do not override eligibility determinations when students are approved for free meals in the current school year. Please review the Direct Certification Medicaid Reference Sheet for more details.
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Why is our DCM list only returning “potentially enrolled” students?
The DCM list will contain DSHS data from July 1, 2020, forward and will match with the most recent enrollment submission in CEDARS. Students will display as potentially enrolled until CEDARS enrollment data has been submitted for 2020-21 school year, early October for most districts.
Potentially enrolled students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
Tips
- Always access the “near match” list first to resolve any near matches. Once resolved, the student names will appear on your district list.
- Save the lists- Save a printed or electronic copy with the date accessed.
Note
When students participate in more than one assistance program, the direct certification system uses a hierarchy system. Basic Food is the highest. For example if a student is directly certified Medicaid Free and is also directly certified free Basic Food, the DC system will show the student directly certified Basic Food on the DC list.
Child Nutrition Services reviews matching algorithms to ensure the system matches to the best of its capability without false positive matches. When the system can’t make an exact match, students become a near match. When a near match can’t be made, the student search feature can be used. Child Nutrition Services expects that LEAs will make efforts to find students using the student search feature.
Resources
Contact Information
For EDS access, passwords and to have Direct Certification added to your Application List within the EDS System – Contact your District Data Security Manager.
For Direct Certification System questions – Contact OSPI Customer Support at 360-725-4311 or CustomerSupport@k12.wa.us.
For questions regarding your meal counting system – Contact your meal counting system software vendor.
For NSLP program questions regarding eligibility, etc. – Contact your program specialist.
Private schools and residential child care institutions (RCCIs) participating in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs are required to complete and submit a Child Nutrition Financial Report (CNFR) annually. This includes sponsors that participate in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Special Milk Program.
The CNFR reports the net resources for state fiscal year ending 2020 (July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020). The report is filed in WINS and is due by December 31, 2020.
Resources
Questions? Please contact your program specialist.
In place of the annual Breakfast Meals for Kids Grant, this year OSPI will be offering a new, more flexible option, the Meal Access Grant!
Unlike previous years, these funds may be used to improve on any of the various ways that districts are feeding students, whether that be through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). School Breakfast Program (SBP), or other USDA school meal program.
The focus of this competitive grant is to assist in starting a new meal program, to increase participation in an existing program, to improve program quality, and to improve the equipment and facilities used in an existing meal programs.
This grant is only available to public schools, charter schools, and tribal compact schools.
More details will be announced in the near future.
Questions? Please email Mikhail Cherniske or call 360-999-0962.
School meal applications play a vital role to state and federal funding. In an effort to support districts, OSPI launched the More Than a Meal Application toolkit. This toolkit is designed to help districts promote the importance of families filling out the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application each year.
Materials are located on the Meal Application and Verification webpage, under the "It's More Than a Meal Application Toolkit" dropdown.
Currently, we have these materials in English and Spanish. Additional languages coming soon: Chinese (simplified), Khmer, Korean, Marshallese, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Ukrainian, Vietnamese.
Flyers & Templates
Social Media
Are These Materials Editable?
Yes, we have created an editable version of the flyer in both color and black & white options. You may choose to add your school colors, contact information, links, district logos, or other information.
Here are the steps you must complete:
- Click the appropriate link below and go to Canva, you must create an account if you don't already have one (it's free).
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IMPORTANT: Before you start editing, you must make a copy of the items to avoid multiple edits to the same image.
- Go to the upper left hand corner and select "File".
- Select "Make a Copy".
- A new page will populate and you can start editing!
Additionally, the General Mills Company created the #SupportSchoolMeals campaign with additional resources you can use to promote school meals. Please visit their #SupportSchoolMeals website for more information.
Last week, we sent an update regarding October Building Data (OBD) requirements and how to input data into the system. Here are some additional resources.
Questions about how to enter OBD in SY 20-21? Please contact your program specialist.
We recently shared information outlining annual U.S. Department of Agriculture school meal programs requirements. Please review this update for details regarding:
- Verification,
- Afterschool Snack reviews,
- CACFP At-Risk reviews,
- Onsite review requirements, and more.
REMINDER
Completed forms are not required to be submitted, however, you must keep them on file for Administrative Reviews.
The school meal programs has other requirements that must be completed throughout the program year. Please use the School Meal Programs Requirements chart and School Meal Program Yearly Calendar to assist in understanding program requirements and finding resources.
For a complete list of the Nationwide Waivers in effect for SY 20-21, please visit OSPI’s COVID-19 Nutrition Meals & Guidance webpage.
Questions? Please contact your program specialist.
Districts offering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)/ School Breakfast Program (SBP), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) this fall are encouraged to join us for weekly webinars.
Register Here
Date: Wednesdays through November 4, 2020
Time: 2 - 3 pm PT
Please hold a space on your calendar. A reminder email with your link to log into the webinar is sent 1 hour before the session starts.
Weekly follow up emails with a copy of the slides are sent to everyone registered for the session, even if they did not attend. We will not be posting recordings to the CNS webpages due to rapidly changing information .
Please keep an eye out in your inbox for these emails, if you do not see them in your inbox please check your SPAM box.
Miss last week? You can review last week's recording at this link.
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No Kid Hungry is partnering and School Nutrition Foundation are partnering to support the efforts of school nutrition departments that are working with community organizations, i.e. non-profits and out-of-school time providers, or building new partnerships to ensure kids get the food they need.
Grants of up to $50,000 will be given to facilitate partnerships with community organizations to support joint efforts to ensure kids in their community have access to the federal meals programs, backpack programs and food pantries. This grant will also support the needs of school nutrition departments to run these programs.
Deadline to apply is Oct 28, 2020 by 8:59 pm PT
Eligibility Criteria: School districts that are currently working with community organizations, or intend to work with community organizations, to provide children in their communities with access to the federal meals programs, backpack programs or food pantries during the coronavirus pandemic.
Length of Grant: November 15, 2020 – November 15, 2021
Grant Amount: up to $50,000 awarded to school nutrition departments
Download the RFP to find out more about the grant and how to apply!
During the FFVP distribution, Shelton School District has included seasonal winter squash in their 5 day FFVP boxes. They featured multiple types of squash, including pumpkin-type squashes and acorn squash.
Kathryn Shelton, the Food Service Director, reported that families were excited about the autumn offering.
At a time when household produce budgets may be squeezed, being able to offer fun and seasonal produce under current FFVP flexibilities is great option. It is also a nice opportunity to message the nutritional value that winter squash provides. If you decide to include small pumpkins or squash in your FFVP program, CNS would love to see photos.
Thanks Shelton SD for your creative efforts in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program!
Photo by Liz West on Flickr | CC BY 2.0
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October 21
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SY20-21 Food Service Operations for NSLP and SFSP Sponsors Weekly Webinar - Register Here
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October 30
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Last Day to submit August claims! 60-Day Claim Deadline
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October 31
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Due Date for SY20-21 SFSP/ SSO Applications
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October 31
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NSLP/SBP Public/ Private Schools Renewal Applications Due! Make sure to complete all the required steps!
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