All Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are eligible for the Safe School Meals Grant!
The Washington State Legislature provided funds to support safe school meals in SY 21–22. Funds are awarded based on enrollment and meal participation.
All public, charter, and tribal compact schools sponsoring a school meal program during School Year (SY) 21–22 are eligible for this non-competitive grant! We have simplified the application process so all applications are easy to complete (and funded)!
Application and Grant Funding Resources
Simplified Application Process—Apply Early!
We are aware that there may be supply chain issues with receiving equipment. Consider submitting your application in iGrants as soon as possible to assist CNS in approving your application so purchases can be finalized before the January 3, 2022, deadline.
Safe School Meals Grant (Form Package 170) due by 4pm on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.
Funds may be used to:
- Purchase equipment and supplies to increase the safety of school meals in SY 21–22. This includes, but is not limited to supplies or equipment to:
- Increase social distancing of students eating meals.
- Reduce touch points in the meal programs.
- Increase food safety.
- Increase safety in meal service.
- Provide training to increase the safety of school meals in SY 21–22.
- Provide outreach to students, families, and school staff, including translation services
Questions? Please email Mikhail Cherniske.
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Applications for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) are due September 30 for Local Education Agencies (LEA).
Please follow the instructions provided in the bulletins to ensure the renewal process is complete. A Renewal Information Guide is also available to assist you in this process.
For links to bulletins and their attachments, please review the 8/23 Renewal Article.
General Reminders
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SY 21–22 Meal Distribution Plans (MDP) The SY 21–22 Meal Distribution Plan must be submitted, in addition to the WINS application. Within the MDP, you may apply for specific waivers. Waivers may be implemented “only for the extent and duration needed" and approval will be on a case-by-case basis. Sponsors should wait to submit their MDP until operational plans have been determined.
- The MDP and WINS application should align. If operation is unclear and the MDP does not align with WINS, applications will be returned and a new MDP may be required.
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Meal Service Schedules A separate meal service schedule should be created in the WINS site calendar to capture "grab and go" meal distribution times at open and closed enrolled sites. The schedule’s end date should reflect the date of waiver expiration (December 31, 2021 or sooner depending on waiver request).
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August Operating Dates Please contact your Program Specialist for instructions on how to add August to your site calendar.
Resources
Questions? Contact your Program Specialist.
Many school districts are participating in the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) this school year using flexibilities allowed in COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #85. This option allows districts to provide breakfast and lunches to students at no charge. Pre-K students at school district sites may be eligible to receive meals under SSO, however, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) does not have the same flexibility through a Nationwide Waiver to provide free meals to all participating children*.
Claiming Reminders
Here are some reminders for Pre-K children (including Head Start, early Head Start, and ECEAP) and early learning programs that may be participating at schools:
- The district can provide and claim breakfast and lunch meals distributed to children attending their on-campus pre-school or early learning center.
- Children must be enrolled in the district if the site is operating as a “closed” SSO site.
- If Pre-K/Head Start/ECEAP students are not enrolled in the district and the school is operating “closed” SSO sites— the meals may not be claimed by the district and the program must establish a Vended Meal Agreement with the district.
- AM or PM Snack served to Pre-K children must be claimed under CACFP.
- School districts wanting to claim Pre-K Snacks need to apply or renew their CACFP application.
- Children participating in Head Start/Early Head Start/ECEAP are automatically eligible for free meals in CACFP (with documentation on file from the contractor agency). A CACFP Enrollment form is required.
- Pre-K programs enrolling community children (tuition-based preschool, transitional kindergarten) must collect income eligibility applications and conduct a study month.
Meal Pattern Reminders
- Pre-K meals provided by the district and claimed on SSO must meet the CACFP Pre-K meal pattern (unless co-mingled with older students).
- Pre-K snacks provided by a School District participating on SSO must meet the CACFP Pre-K meal pattern.
- Pre-K or child care centers receiving vended meals from a School District must meet the CACFP meal pattern.
Review the Serving 3-5 Year Olds in School District Settings recorded training for more information on serving this age group.
New to CACFP? Learn more about this Program and start the application process today!
*Note: The area eligibility waiver (CNR #93) only applies to At-Risk Afterschool Meals and Snacks and also in-home child care providers. Child Nutrition Response (CNR) #93 does not apply to center-based programs, such as Pre-K, Early Learning and Child Care, and Outside School Hours Care Centers.
Do you believe in the power of good nutrition? Are you interested in assisting school districts and other institutions in providing children with healthy and nutritious meals? CNS is seeking skilled candidates for several positions. Does this sound like you? Apply to join the CNS team today!
Current Recruitments
Coming Soon
- Administrative Program Specialist – Financial
- Administrative Assistant – Food Distribution Program
Food supply disruptions and availability can materially impact LEA's contracts with Food Service Management Companies (FSMCs). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) previously released COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #90 which allows Local Education Agencies (LEAs) with FSMC contracts to adjust menus, including the meal pattern flexibilities allowed in this waiver.
Next Steps
Section 6.10 of the WA FSMC Contract Template allows both the LEAs and FSMCs to increase fixed meal prices above the Consumer Price Index due to unforeseen circumstances such as the COVID-19 emergency.
- The LEA and the FSMC must renegotiate in good faith the fixed price per meal.
- OSPI CNS must approve any material changes to the original contract.
- For school year 2020–21 and 2021–22, we waived the 10% materiality threshold requirement in our contract template due to the COVID-19 emergency. As a result, increases in fixed meal prices may exceed 10% of the LEA contract value but only with the approval of OSPI CNS.
For public schools renewing FSMC contracts or going out to bid for school year 2022–23, the 10% limit will resume. We will follow-up with districts who increased their fixed meal prices by more than 10% with the understanding that they will resume normal pricing in school year 2022–23.
Questions? Please email Jeff Booth.
Participation in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) school meal programs requires program operators to meet certain annual requirements. These include:
- All sponsors who collect school meal applications must complete the annual verification process for SY 21-22.
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October Building Data (OBD)- Data must be reported on the October claim for reimbursement by December 30.
- All School Meal Program sponsors, including those operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), or Special Milk Program (SMP), must report OBD. OBD documents the number of enrolled children eligible for free, reduced-price, and paid meals who traditionally have access to meals in the NSLP, SBP, or SMP.
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Annual Civil Rights Training - You must train all organization staff who help administer the nutrition program. Training must include your organization’s requirements and procedures as well as meet the training requirements outlined in this presentation.
Completed forms are not required to be submitted, however, you must keep them on file for Administrative Reviews.
REMINDER
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 21–22, please visit OSPI’s COVID-19 Nutrition Meals & Guidance webpage. Instructions, forms, and tools are available on the Child Nutrition Services website.
Questions? Please contact your program specialist.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) recently published the Request for Information: Buy American in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.
This request is to gather feedback from stakeholders on:
- How the Buy American provision and guidance are currently implemented,
- Changes FNS should make to current regulations, and
- Guidance and feedback on how FNS can better support local operators as they strive to purchase domestic foods and food products.
Please submit your responses by November 2, 2021.
October 1-31: National Farm to School Month
Celebrate by offering farm to school activities at least once or all month long! Some ideas include: taste tests, nutrition education, farm visits, and garden harvest parties!
Serving local food items as part of your menu is another great idea way to celebrate! More ideas and specific resources are found on National Farm to School Network’s website.
OSPI and USDA support the use of Farm to School activities in your program. In fact, they’re considered a best practice!
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October 6: Taste Washington Day!
Taste Washington Day is an annual celebration of Washington grown foods served in school meals during the fall harvest season. To participate, connect with local farms to purchase a Washington-grown food item and make the most of our state’s bountiful fall harvest. WSDA has many resources to help you purchase locally and promote your efforts.
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October 6: Washington Apple Crunch
The statewide Apple Crunch also occurs on October 6 and purchasing local apples for the Crunch can count towards both events! Taste Washington Day is a great way to kick-off Farm to School Month! Celebrate with us on October 6 and count the efforts towards your participation in Farm to School Month!
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October 11 – 15, 2021: National School Lunch Week
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) serves nearly 30 million children every school day. President John F. Kennedy created National School Lunch Week (NSLW) in 1962 to promote the importance of a healthy school lunch in a child’s life and the impact it has inside and outside of the classroom.
The School Nutrition Association’s campaign offers a jungle-sized selection of tools and resources, including downloadable artwork and social media tips, to help you plan a successful celebration and promote your program to students, parents and the local community.
Use the NSLW Promotional Items Webpage for ideas on how to celebrate!
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Grab a snack (and tell your friends) and the Dairy Council for an online series of Leadership and Wellness Workshops!
These 30-minute virtual workshops will give you a chance to connect with others around your state and the region – and have a little fun, too! This school year is full of different challenges and opportunities, join these short and interactive workshop to learn tips and tricks when working with your work teams.
Register for one or more of the Chew on This Leadership Workshops:
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Wednesday, September 29: Generation Alpha (2 PM PT)
Find out what makes this next generation of doers different – and how to engage them in your work!
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Tuesday, October 5: Experience Matters (2 PM PT)
Discover how experiential learning helps build skills and confidence in both youth and adults.
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Tuesday, October 19: Share Your Story (2 PM PT)
Connect with your peers to share your reflections, challenges and takeaways.
The workshops are free to attend, but registration is required. Professional development contact hours will be provided to those who attend 2 or more workshops.
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