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This last year has looked quite different than previous years! At this time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not released information regarding the Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) tool. We will release information as it becomes available. Please keep an eye out for future CNS updates.
What is the PLE Tool?
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).
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
Join Us For Our A Webinar Exploring the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)!
Register Here
Dates: Wednesday, March 17
Time: 2 – 3pm PT
Superintendents, school board members, business officials, Title 1 staff, nutrition staff, local leaders, and anybody else involved in CEP planning is encouraged to attend! We recommend attending as a cohort from your district to maximize planning time.
- We’ll discuss an overview of CEP, review how OSPI is implementing the Hunger-Free Schools Act (HB 2660, 2020), and explore how to apply for the program!
- If you’re unfamiliar with CEP you can explore our CEP webpage and read our CEP Reference Sheet.
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Unsure if your schools are eligible for CEP? While the data for 2021-22 isn’t out until April, you can look at the 2020-21 CEP-Eligible LEA & School Report to get an idea if your schools will be eligible.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
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 This year is incredibly busy, but it is a great time to promote CN programs as a response to COVID-19, and highlight your new and creative approaches to feed kids during this time.
National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) starts March 8! Are YOU ready to score big?
How to participate?
- If you use Twitter, we suggest you use the following hashtags: #NSBW21, and #OSPIChildNutrition . You can also tag @USDANutrition and possibly get a re-tweet!
- Use activity and coloring sheets for elementary and middle school age kids to celebrate!
- Download the NSBW Infographic to share information - English and Spanish is available.
- Download the NSBW Toolkit for celebration ideas to engage students at home, in classrooms, and in the cafeteria.
- Use SNA’s Marketing & PR Resources for ideas, social media graphics, and more.
Promote National School Breakfast Week on your Program’s Social Media
Download the Facebook cover photo (jpg) or Instagram meme (jpg) images and add it to your program’s page to increase awareness of #NSBW21!
Send Us Your NSBW Celebrations!
We want to see all the activities, celebrations, and fun you have for #NSBW21! Send Your photos to samantha.brueske@k12.wa.us and your district could be featured in our highlights.
Monthly claims are due by the 15th of each month following the claim period. All claims entered in WINS and in OK to Pay status will process for payment at the end of the month. Here are some important reminders about claiming in the Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS):
General Claiming Reminders
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FSMC & Vended Sponsors – Correct your SFSP Average Daily Attendance (ADA) Before Claiming
- Meals claimed in excess of the CAP count for a site will result in a claim error. SFSP sponsors must make Average Daily Attendance (ADA) revisions prior to submitting monthly claims. Specialists must approve revisions before claims can process for payment.
- Revised ADA's will not be approved for claims that go into error status due to meals claimed over the approved CAP.
- Compare the Average Number of Meals to the approved CAP. If the Average exceeds the CAP, increase the ADA in your site calendar and email your Program Specialist.
- Here is a quick equation to determine whether the ADA should be revised: Total Meals Served / Number of Operating Days = Average Number of Meals per day.
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Working with a Food Service Management Company (FSMC) or Vendor? FSMCs and Vended Sponsors cannot be reimbursed for any meals above the 120% of the ADA. Update the ADA prior to submitting the claim for the excess meals to be reimbursed.
- Monthly claim data must be in "OK to Pay" status by 5:00 pm PT on the 15th.
- WINS will automatically log all users out of the system on the 15th of each month at exactly 5pm PT.
- Give yourself enough time to input all claiming data, preview errors, correct errors. Completing these steps will help you ensure the claim is in “OK to Pay” status.
- At 5 pm, the claim function is closed. This means that the system does not allow access to claims for until after the monthly reconciliation process is complete. This can take up to two business days.
- Didn't submit your claim by the 15th? That's okay! Submit your monthly claim by the 60-day deadline.
- Example: The February 60-day claim deadline is April 29, 2021.
- Claim reimbursements that are not entered into WINS or not in OK to pay status will NOT process for payment by the end of the month.
- The 20-21 Claim Processing Dates Information Sheet takes weekends and holidays into consideration for the 60-day deadlines. You may want to print or bookmark this information.
- Refer to the Claims Reference Sheet for details on what to do if you don't submit your claims by the 60-day claim deadline.
- Errors must be resolved for claims to be paid. WINS has multiple edit checks to help resolve issues before your claim is submitted.
- WINS edit checks the number of approved operating days for each site to the number of operating days entered in the site claim. If these numbers don’t match, the claim will go into error status.
- Review the Claiming Error Messages in WINS Information Sheet for more details on possible errors.
- Pro-Tip: Always select “Preview Errors” at the bottom of each site claim once information is entered.
Claiming Resources
Have Questions? Please contact Hydie Kidd, Fiscal Supervisor, or Pam Fravel, Fiscal Analyst.
Last Wednesday, we released a special CNS Update for Pandemic EBT. Some important highlights include:
- Student Eligibility Data Upload - Due today by 5:00pm PT.
- Promo Materials are now available on the OSPI Pandemic EBT Guidance for School Districts webpage.
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IMPORTANT: If you downloaded the Social Media Post Ideas document, there was an error. Please do not use posts 9 or 10, as we are still working to finalize future eligibility upload dates. These documents have been updated.
- Working with students experiencing homelessness or in foster care.
For more details, please review the 3/3 Special CNS Update.
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.
Reminders
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All Sponsors operating SFSP/SSO or NSLP in SY2020-21, verification must have been completed by February 28.
- Sponsors operating NSLP in SY 20-21
- Completion of the VSR is tied to submission of the January claim for reimbursement filed in February. Please reach out to your program specialist if unable to submit your January claim due the VSR edit check.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
If you’re planning to provide meals over Spring Break, you may need to update WINS information and your SY20-21 Meal Distribution Plan (MDP).
Ensure non-operating days in your SY2020-21 WINS Calendar(s) are updated prior to meal service.
- WINS requires calendars with a NSLP/SBP October Building Data schedule to contain at least one non-operating day.
- A Saturday, Sunday, or the day following the last day of operation can be used as a non-operating day if the site is operating during all holidays and term breaks.
If your Meal Distribution Plan for Spring Break differs from your normal operation, please notify your Program Specialist.
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 2/10 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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OSPI Child Nutrition Services (CNS) invites you to participate in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Distribution Program for the 2021 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
Why USDA Foods?
The USDA Foods program offers a wide variety of nutrient-dense, kid-friendly food and provides a great value – plus it can help you achieve a balanced budget.
Organizations earn entitlement dollars based on the number of meals served during the previous years’ operation. Sponsors that earned at least $50 in USDA Foods entitlements based on their 2020 operation are eligible to participate this year.
This Years’ Items May Include:
- Individual fruit cups
- Pre-cooked beef patties
- Canned beans
- Canned fruit
- For a complete list of USDA foods that may be offered, please view the WA Food Items Available List.
More About USDA Food Ordering
- There is a minimum case requirement when ordering.
- Dry Items– 15 cases.
- Frozen Items – 15 cases.
- While USDA Foods uses entitlement dollars, associated fees are charged to the sponsor (processing fees, delivery fees, storage fees, etc.).
How to Participate
- Complete the Intent to Order USDA Foods for SFSP survey by Thursday, March 11, 2021.
- CNS will contact interested sponsors with additional information and ordering instructions.
- The ordering period is March 24–26, 2021.
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School Districts currently receiving USDA Foods will receive their SFSP orders with their NSLP May Surplus order, if applicable.
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Non-School District SFSP Sponsors will arrange to pick-up orders May 3–21, 2021.
- West side pick-up location (Dry and Frozen foods): Lineage Logistics in Algona
- East side pick-up location:
- Frozen - Empire Cold in Spokane
- Dry - Inland Empire Distribution in Spokane.
NOTE: By completing an interest form and accepting USDA foods, you and your organization agree to apply for, and operate, a Summer Food Service Program during summer 2021.
Questions? Please email the FDP team or call 360-725-6204
April orders open Wednesday, March 3, and will close Wednesday, March 10, at 4pm.
Surplus orders will open Thursday, March 11, at 1pm for groups 1 - 3, and 2pm for all other groups. Surplus closes Friday, March 12, at 4pm.
For more information on your group number, please review the Order and Delivery Schedule.
Ordering
- To place an order - log-in to CNP Web.
- Your Food Distribution Application must be completed (including certified and submitted) before you can place an order.
- Ordering Instructions
- Reminder:
The Ordering and Receiving webpage has multiple resources to assist you in placing your ordering including; instructions, order and distribution schedule.
Important Reminders
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Confirmation of USDA Foods If you’re scheduled to receive a USDA Foods Delivery, you should receive an appointment confirmation from the carrier. Please remember to reply to the carrier confirming receipt of appointment.
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To update or change your delivery contact person, please complete the Delivery Updates Form.
Questions? Please email the Food Distribution Office or call 360-725-6204.
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What is the USDA Unprocessed Fruits & Vegetables Pilot Project?
The USDA Pilot Project for Unprocessed Fruits & Vegetables allows schools to use their entitlement dollars to purchase 'unprocessed' fruits and vegetables from various vendors approved by USDA, including produce items that have been minimally sliced, diced, chopped, washed, frozen or dried. Foods that have been heat-treated for processing such as canning or pickling, or contain additives, are not eligible.
Many locally grown products are also available from farms and local food distributors that are eligible vendors for purchases through the USDA Pilot Project.
For more details please review the WSDA Farm to School Toolkit’s USDA Pilot Project page.
How can my school join the USDA Pilot Project?
Schools can participate by submitting the USDA Pilot Project Application. The application window opened February 8, 2021, and closes April 15, 2021. Please complete the application to allocate entitlement for next SY.
OSPI will work with you to help determine how much entitlement you would like to set aside, and making the allocation.
USDA Pilot Project Schools Toolkit
*This program requires procurement to be facilitated by the School District to one or more approved Vendors. Once the allocation has been submitted, this information will be final and cannot be changed.
OSPI and WSDA's farm to school team are available to help.
Need help with vendors, product availability, procurement, or Farm to School opportunities? Please email Chris Iberle, WSDA Farm to School Lead.
Questions about the application process, allocation process, or general info? Please email Sarah Davis, FDP Fiscal Analyst.
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March 1-31
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National Nutrition Month!
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March 8–12
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National School Breakfast Week!
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March 8
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P-EBT Uploads Due in Accenture Portal
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March 10
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Bi-Weekly Food Service Operations for NSLP and SFSP Sponsors Webinar - Register Here
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March 10
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April FDP Ordering Closes
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March 11–12
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April Surplus Ordering Open in CNP
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March 15
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February Claims Due in WINS
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