“Access to quality nutrition is fundamental to student learning, and it starts with breakfast. Through supply-chain issues and school closures, you went above and beyond to ensure our students could access nutritious breakfast options. To our food services staff, thank you for your dedication to feeding Washington’s students!”
~Superintendent Chris Reykdal
New School Breakfast Materials from Team Nutrition
In honor of National School Breakfast Week, Team Nutrition released new school breakfast resources for State agencies, School Food Authorities, schools, and community partners.
Visit Team Nutrition’s School Breakfast Materials webpage to access these free online resources as well as other nutrition education and menu planning tools.
- Stronger with School Breakfast Infographic (in Spanish and English)
- Stronger with School Breakfast Video
- School Breakfast Photo Props
- Shareable Social Media Graphics and Messages
- School Breakfast Quiz
- A training guide, “Best Practices for Reducing Added Sugars at School Breakfast”
- A training guide, “Offering Smoothies as Part of Reimbursable School Meals” (now also in Spanish)
Questions about Team Nutrition Resources? Please email the Team Nutrition inbox.
Send OSPI CNS Your NSBW Celebrations!
The 2022 National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) theme was "Are YOU ready to Take Off With School Breakfast?"
We want to see all the activities, celebrations, and fun you have for #NSBW22! Send your photos to the Child Nutrition team— we will highlight districts in upcoming CNS Newsletters!
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released two new policy memos:
This guidance is intended to be transitional and in effect for school years (SY) 2022–23 and 2023–24. USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) plans to share a new rule for long-term meal pattern requirements to be effective starting in SY 2024–25.
In case of a delay, this updated guidance will remain effective until subsequent standards are shared through rulemaking. The Q&A memorandums rescind and replace SP 37-2019, CACFP 16-2019, Questions and Answers on the Final Rule Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements, dated September 23, 2019 and SP 38-2019: Meal Requirements under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Questions & Answers for Program Operators, dated September 23, 2019.
Share Your Thoughts
USDA is inviting comments on this final rule to provide insight as we work towards developing permanent, science-based meal standards for the long-term.
The Final Rule is available for public comment until March 24, 2022. Submit your comments here.
Resources
CEP Expansion Signed into Law
Governor Inslee signed House Bill 1878 into law on March 4, 2022. The new law requires participation in the USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for all schools with an Identified Student Percentage (ISP) of 40%. This expands the work of HB 2660 (2020) which required CEP in non-high schools above 62.5% ISP. For more details about Identified Student Percentage, please review the CEP Reference Sheet.
State Funding will Supplement Federal Funds in Lower ISP Schools
The law also ensures that CEP schools will get the highest possible per-meal reimbursement. When a school’s Free Claiming Percentage (ISP * 1.6 federal multiplier) is less than 100%, state funding will supplement federal reimbursement so that all meals served are reimbursed at the free rate.
Join Us for a Webinar!
Join OSPI Child Nutrition Services for more information about CEP requirements, the application process, and impacts on other funding.
Register for the SY 2022–23 Community Eligibility Provision Webinar
Date: Wednesday, April 13
Time: 1–2 pm PT
Questions? Please email your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
The Washington Department of Health (DOH) recently released updated guidance on Requirements and Guidance to Mitigate COVID-19 Transmission in K-12 Schools, Child Care, Early Learning, Youth Development, and Day Camp Programs. Updates in this version reflect recently released Center for Disease Control's (CDC) recommendations for schools and seek to achieve two primary goals:
- Minimize transmission of COVID-19 among students and staff in K–12 schools and to their families and broader community.
- Maximize in-person instruction.
Summary of Changes
- Required measures
- Additional options and considerations for schools and child care providers
- Additional resources and information
- The previous K-12 Requirements for the 2021-2022 School Year and K-12 Supplemental Considerations have been merged into one document and streamlined
- Previous recommendations for child care, early learning, youth development, and day camp programs have been included in this comprehensive and aligned document
Resources
Since the late 1970's, each legal entity that received funds from the U.S. Government was required to have a unique identifier called a DUNS number. On April 4, 2022, the federal government will be moving away from the DUNS Number as its official entity identifier and toward the new Unique Entity ID (SAM), which will be generated in SAM.gov.
All Child Nutrition Sponsors should already have their DUNS number registered at SAM.gov. If you do not know your SAM ID or have never registered for one, you can go to www.sam.gov to register for a new account and request your unique SAM ID in a few minutes.
Communication from CNS
If you received a survey link from OSPI titled “Needed Fiscal Information-SAM ID”, we were not able to find your SAM ID in the database at www.sam.gov. It is important that you obtain a SAM ID and complete this survey as soon as possible. We need to add a SAM ID for all Sponsors in WINS prior to our next federal reporting deadline.
Questions? Contact your CNS 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!
If you were unable to attend our March 10 webinar, we invite you to attend the repeat presentation!
Register for the BAB: Designing Your Implementation Plan webinar
Date: Thursday, March 24
Time: 2–3 pm PT
Resources
Questions? Please email Mikhail Cherniske, CNS Legislative Specialist
USDA recently provided guidance on funding and resources to assist sponsors of school nutrition programs dealing with supply chain disruptions. This relief funding is made available through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and authorized under the CCC Charter Act. Assistance is being provided through the following three channels.
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Supply Chain Assistance- WA allocation $18,233,217
Funding for all School Food Authorities “exclusively” for the purchase of domestic foods that are minimally processed. Allocations will be based on $5,000 for each SFA plus a proportional amount based on October 2021 enrollment.
We are currently seeking spending authority through the state legislature and plan to distribute these funds at the beginning of next school year. Funds may be used through 9/30/2023.Please review SP 03-2022: Allocation of Supply Chain Assistance (SCA) Funds to Alleviate Supply Chain Disruptions in the School Meal Programs for additional USDA guidance on SCA funds. More Washington state specific details will be provided in a OSPI Bulletin and webinar.
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USDA Foods in Schools- WA allocation $5,283,131
Majority of funding will be added to next year’s entitlement allocation. A small amount will be added to next year’s DoD allocation.
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Local Food For Schools- WA allocation $3,644,643
Funding to state agencies for the purchase of domestic local foods for distribution to schools. OSPI Child Nutrition Services is currently awaiting details from USDA.
Questions? Please email the Child Nutrition team.
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines have been announced for FNS child nutrition programs.
These guidelines are to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced-price meals and free milk for the period from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. These guidelines are used by schools, institutions, and facilities participating in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program.
Download a copy of the SY 2022–23 Income Guidelines
The Washington School Nutrition Association (WSNA) places an emphasis on continuing education for school nutrition professionals.
Join the Virtual Spring Workshop!
Each year, WSNA hosts their annual Spring Workshop to bring everyone together for updates, connection, and continuing education credits! Register yourself or guest for only $15 per attendee!
Register for WSNA's Spring Workshop (on Zoom)
Date: Saturday, March 26
Time: 8:00 am–12:30 pm PT
Participants can earn up to 3.5 Continuing Education Credits for attending this event.
Mark Your Calendars
WSNA will be hosting their Annual Summer Conference in-person in Spokane on July 25–27! See you there!
Questions? Please email Mindy Cass, WSNA Executive Director for more details.
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