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As Local Education Agencies (LEAs) transition to in-person or hybrid learning models, we want to remind you of some options surrounding Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) operations.
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Closed Enrolled Sites – Meals are provided only to enrolled children; service is not open to the public.
- Local Education Agencies (LEAs) may want to consider operating Closed Enrolled Sites at schools offering in-person learning.
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Open Sites – Meal service is open to the community.
- All children (enrolled, virtual, and community) must be offered the same meals.
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Meal Service Changes – Meal Distribution Plans and WINS must be updated to accurately reflect how, when, and where meals are served.
- If meal service is changing to align with new instructional models or for other reasons, submit a new Meal Distribution Plan to reflect the changes.
- Meals are only eligible for reimbursement when served during the State Agency approved dates and times per 7 CFR 225.16. Calendar revisions must be approved prior to meal service.
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Adding or Removing Sites – Create a site application and calendar for new sites. For sites that will cease operations, revise the site calendar with the last meal service date.
- Site applications and calendars for new sites must be submitted prior to beginning meal service.
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Meals for Children under 6 years – Sponsors have the option to follow CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements for children under age 6, which includes smaller portion sizes than the SFSP Meal Pattern.
- Flexibility must be approved in the WINS Site Application under Service Type.
- All CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements must be followed, including whole-grain rich requirements, limitations on sugar, and grain-based desserts.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
OSPI CNS has two grant opportunities!
Both grants are open in the iGrants system. Schools may apply for these grants even though they are currently operating the Summer Meal Programs.
Meals for Kids Meal Access Grant - Closes at 4pm on January 28
This grant has a short turnaround and the due date cannot be extended so apply soon!
This grant is available to public school districts, tribal compact schools and charter schools.
Focus Areas for This Grant
This grant focuses on starting a new meal program, increasing participation in an existing program, improving program meal quality, and improving the equipment and facilities used in an existing program.
Interested in Applying?
Complete your application in iGrants (form package 383) before 4 pm PT on Thursday, January 28, 2021.
Review the Meal Access Grant Interest Webinar for an overview of the application, important changes from previous year's applications, tips and tricks, and grant timelines.
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USDA Equipment Assistance Grant- Form Package 472
If you are a public school district, private school, tribal school, charter school or residential childcare institution, you are eligible to apply. You are eligible even if you are operating the SFSP in the 20-21 school year.
Focus Areas for This Grant
Replacing aging equipment or updating equipment, adopting lunchroom changes that provide more convenience and appeal to students, and making meaningful impacts on student nutrition and quality of meals.
Note: Equipment must meet USDA definition of equipment with a per unit cost of $1,000 or more.
Interested in Applying?
Complete your application in iGrants (form package 472) before 4 pm PT on Thursday, January 28, 2021.
Review the NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant Interest Webinar for an overview of the application, important changes from previous year's applications, tips and tricks, and grant timelines.
Questions? Please email Wendy Barkley, CNS Assistant Director.
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Join Us For Our New Bi-Weekly Webinar Series!
During these webinars OSPI CNS will discuss hot topics, highlight important reminders, and provide an opportunity for you to ask questions.
Register Here
Dates: Every other Wednesday through 6/30/2021
Time: 2 - 3pm PT
Program operators offering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)/ School Breakfast Program (SBP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) during the 20-21 school year are encouraged to join us for these webinars.
Reminders
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Follow up emails will no longer be sent after the meeting. If you missed our last webinar, you can review the recording from our 1/13 meeting here.
- Save us on Your Calendar! When you register, there is an option to add us to your calendar at the bottom of the confirmation email.
- A reminder email with your link to log into the webinar is sent 1 hour before the session starts.
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The Verification Summary Report (VSR) is currently 'on hold' in WINS. Recently, OSPI CNS received information that USDA will soon be publish guidance that may impact our process.
Sponsors will not have access to the VSR module in WINS until we receive this additional guidance. Sponsors will be notified when the VSR reopens along with any additional instructions.
All sponsors must complete the Verification Summary Report (VSR) regardless of whether the verification process is required.
This includes residential childcare institutions, private schools, charter schools, as well as schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision or Provision 2 for all schools in the district. The report is abbreviated for sponsors that are not required to conduct the verification process.
Reminders
- All LEAs that collected school meal applications during SY 20-21 are required to conduct verification based on the number of approved applications as of October 1, 2020.
- Paused carryover applications are not included in this count.
- Although schools may have transitioned to SFSP/SSO operations, verification is still necessary and required.
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Sponsors operating SFSP/SSO in SY 20-21, the VSR must be completed by February 28.
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Sponsors operating NSLP in SY 20-21
- Completion of the VSR is tied to submission of the January claim for reimbursement filed in February.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
The Washington State legislature appropriated 7.2 million in funds to support Child Nutrition Programs in WA during 2020-21. These funds continue support breakfast assistance and the elimination of reduced-price co-pays for sponsors operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).
Districts operating the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) are not receiving these funds. To support meal access and distribution, OSPI CNS will distribute funds to these districts in January and May 2021.
January's payment is based on the number of SFSP/SSO lunches reported on the October 2020 claim for reimbursement. Payments will be approximately $0.55 per lunch meal served.
Reporting Codes
- Apportionment - revenue code 4198-05
- AFRS - State Summer Match Funds
Questions? Please contact your program specialist.
With the start of a new fiscal year on October 1, monitoring visits must be conducted of all SFSP sites, regardless of whether they operated during emergency or traditional SFSP in SY 2019-20.
There are 3 required monitoring visits for SFSP sites.
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Pre-operational Visits – Must be conducted before a site’s first day of service.
- Required for all new sites.
- May be waived for returning sites.
First Week Visits – Must be conducted during a site’s first week of operation.
- Required for all new SFSP sites or returning sites with significant operational problems noted on the previous year’s site review.
- May be waived if:
- A sponsor successfully participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
- Site operated last year and did not have any serious findings noted on its site review.
Site Reviews – Required to be conducted within the first 4 weeks of operation at all SFSP sites.
For more information on waiving SFSP monitoring visits and the Nationwide Waivers, please reference:
All SFSP Monitoring Forms and Reference Sheets can be found on the Program Materials/Forms webpage.
The USDA requires the following reports/ reviews to be completed by February 1.
If you haven’t done so already, please complete these requirements as soon as possible.
Instructions, forms, and tools are available on the Child Nutrition Services website. While completed forms are not required to be submitted, you must keep them on file for Administrative Reviews.
Questions? Please contact your program specialist.
Washington State University and University of Washington are collecting information about food access during the pandemic.
The data has the ability to influence resource allocation, so we strongly encourage you to share this survey with the families you serve.
The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete and will ask questions about health, food access, and economic needs.
The goal is to learn more about how individuals, families, and communities are handling economic and food disruptions due to the pandemic. Washington State residents who are 18 years or older may participate.
Families can access the survey here.
Child Nutrition Services (CNS) invited the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) to conduct several FREE trainings over the coming year. These sessions can be attended by any food services staff, and they offer Professional Standards.
There is a limit of 2 participants from each district per training. We will be offering sessions more than once so there will be more opportunities to attend later in the year.
Register Now!
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Norovirus in Schools - This 2-hour session reviews why norovirus is a concern, symptoms, and prevention and control strategies.
Date: Thursday, February 11
Times:
Register for the 12-2pm session*
Register for the 2:30 - 4:30pm session*
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Food Safety Basics - This session is designed to provide a basic understanding of food safety. Lessons include methods for training staff, how to prevent foodborne illness, and resources for monitoring.
Dates:
Register for the February 16 session*
Register for the March 18 session*
Time: 12 - 4pm PT
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Food Allergies - This training includes information about food allergies, food intolerance, reading food labels, avoiding cross contact, accommodating students with food allergies, and educating the school community about food allergies. Participants will great a food allergy management plan.
Register Here*
Date: Thursday, February 25
Time: 12 - 4pm PT
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Nutrition 101 - This 8-hour course provides a basic overview of nutrition with an emphasis on the importance of balance in daily food choices and the inclusion of physical activity.
Register Here*
Dates: Wednesday, March 3 & Thursday, March 4
Time: 12 - 4pm PT
IMPORTANT: Each participant must have a separate email to register and must sign in using their personal Zoom access link.
After you register, OSPI will approve your request to join the training. Please expect a follow up email with the Zoom registration link at least 1 week before training begins.
There is a limit of 25 participants for the session. If we have reached the maximum number of participants, you will automatically be added to the waitlist.
*Note: You may have to register for an EDS account if you do not have one currently.
Have Questions? Please email Samantha Brueske, Training and Communications Specialist.
New eAuthentication Login for FFAVORS
Please use the new login to place DoD orders and receipt deliveries.
FFAVORS Login
Questions? Please email Sarah Davis.
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January 27
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Bi-Weekly Food Service Operations for NSLP and SFSP Sponsors Webinar - Register Here
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January 29
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November Claim 60-day Deadline - if you haven't already, submit your November Claims!
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February 1
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Annual Requirements Must Be Complete - Food storage evaluation, on-site reviews
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February 15
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January Claims Due in WINS
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