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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently published a correcting amendment in the Federal Register to amend Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and National School Lunch Program (NSLP) regulations.
This amendment, titled CACFP Meal Pattern Revisions Related to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010; Correcting Amendments, corrects previously published errors in three meal pattern tables. Specifically, this correcting amendment corrects values for ready-to-eat cereal for infants, yogurt for all age groups at CACFP snack, and milk for 3-5 year old children at CACFP snack.
The meal pattern charts on the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) website as well as other guidance documents containing the CACFP and NSLP meal pattern tables will be updated in the coming weeks.
NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant (Form Package 472) closes February 10!
Public school districts, private schools, tribal schools, charter schools and residential childcare institutions are eligible to apply National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Equipment Assistance Grant.
This funding can be used to:
- Replace aging equipment or update equipment
- Adopt lunchroom changes that provide more convenience and appeal to students
- Make meaningful impacts on student nutrition and quality of meals.
Interested in Applying?
View the recorded webinar for an overview of the application, important changes from previous year's applications, tips for your application, and grant timelines.
View the NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant Interest Webinar Recording
How to Apply
Applicants may apply for a single school or multiple schools, including central kitchens. Applications are completed in iGrants (form package 472) and are due before 4 pm PT, Thursday, February 10, 2022.
Questions? Please email the CNS Grants team.
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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
All School Meal Program (NSLP/SBP/SSO) sponsors are required to submit the Verification Summary Report (VSR) in WINS by February 15, 2022.
The January claim will not process until the VSR is error free and submitted in WINS. Sponsors who do not collect free and reduced-price meal applications and conduct verification, such as Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCI) with no day students as well as those participating in CEP, must still complete the VSR to certify their total enrollment.
Note: On the "Application Results" tab, enter results carefully. WINS may run slower than usual, do not use the "back" button or click "save a row" more than once. This may result in duplicates that cannot be deleted. If this happens, please contact your program specialist.
Resources
Questions about the verification process? Please contact your School Meals Program Specialist.
Breakfast After the Bell (BAB) requirements related to House Bill 1508: The Washington Kids Ready to Learn Act will be returning in SY 22–23 and is required in high-need schools. High-need schools are defined as any public school where at least 70% of the total students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals; or, if operating the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), the school has a free claiming percentage of 70% or more.
Join us for a Webinar!
The Breakfast After the Bell: Designing Your Implementation Plan webinar will review things to consider when creating a BAB implementation plan, important reminders, and next steps.
Resources
Questions? Please email Mikhail Cherniske, CNS Legislative Specialist
We continue to hear of the ongoing challenges around school closures, food order cancelations, delays, and shortages. To request additional waivers due to school closures or supply chain disruptions, please update the SY 21–22 Meal Distribution Plan (MDP).
Please notify your program specialist of school closures and continue to submit MDPs as well as document supply chain disruptions.
If flexibilities outside of the MDP are needed, please email your program specialist with a description of the disruption and how the Meal Pattern requirements will be met to the maximum extent practicable.
Questions? Please contact your School Meals Program Specialist.
We recognize that many Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are beginning to plan for next school year. There continue to be many unknowns for SY 22–23, including program operations and waiver flexibilities. We are currently seeking guidance from the USDA and will update sponsors as soon as additional information becomes available.
Thank you for all your work to provide meals to the students of Washington state!
House Bill 1660 (2020) introduced new requirements around fee waivers for students eligible for free or reduced-price meals or students enrolled in the College Bound Scholarship Program.
Associated Student Body (ASB) clubs and other extracurricular activities are considered local education programs. Annual parental consent is required before free or reduced-price eligibility information can be shared. This includes students who are eligible for fee waivers via their enrollment in the College Bound Scholarship Program (as eligibility for College Bound is based on eligibility for free or reduced-price meals).
Check out our updated resource, Implementing HB 1660 – Nutrition Services Reference Sheet for more information and helpful tips.
Questions? Please email Mikhail Cherniske, CNS Legislative Specialist.
March orders open Wednesday, February 2, and will close Wednesday, February 9 at 4 pm.
Surplus orders open Thursday, February 10 at 1pm for groups 1–3, and 2 pm for all other groups. Surplus closes Friday, February 11, at 4 pm.
For more information on your group number, please review the SY 21–22 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
The month of January has already been a challenge for our carriers due to weather and unexpected school closings. Because of this, please expect delivery days to vary from previous months.
Notify your carrier as soon as possible if you need to cancel or change your delivery of USDA Foods. Deliveries combine orders from multiple LEAs, loaded in the order they will be delivered. Early notification to your carrier allows for adjustments so other LEAs may still receive their order. Please review our 12/20 FDP Corner article for details on what to do for unexpected changes in your services.
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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.
- Deliveries
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To update or change your delivery contact person, please complete the Delivery Updates Form.
- Standard USDA food deliveries are wrapped and stacked on pallets no higher than approximately five feet and left at your loading dock for you to remove.
- Carriers will drop pallets at dock or just inside the threshold of your facility if the entrance can accommodate. Any request for removal of product from the pallet or asking the driver to enter the facility will require additional cost and must be arranged in advance.
- If there are delivery discrepancies or damages, you may return those cases with the driver.
Questions? Please email the Food Distribution Inbox.
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What is the Pre-Order Survey?
The Pre-Order Survey is your commitment and a preliminary order for the upcoming 2022–23 school year. The survey informs OSPI Food Distribution volume and types of foods we need to order for the entire 2022–23 School Year.
Who must complete the survey?
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) who plan to participate in the USDA Food Distribution program for SY 2022–23.
Timeline
- Complete your initial Pre-Order Survey by Friday, February 18.
- On February 22, OSPI CNS will tally the total quantity of products requested for the state and remove any items that do not meet the minimum truck load requirement.
- You will have until Friday, February 25, to review and revise your order for items that did not meet state truck load minimums and reallocate your entitlement dollars to other products. If you do not reallocate the entitlement dollars for these items, your entitlement will be returned to your account.
New for the 2022-23 School Year!
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20 Case Minimum Requirement
Your frozen order must have a minimum of 20 cases and each dry order must have a minimum of 20 cases for delivery.
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No August Delivery
The first delivery period is September 2022 and the final will be May 2023.
Resources
Questions? Email Sarah Davis or call 360-725-6215.
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