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The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently release several policy memos. The Keep Kids Fed Act extended key waivers to support meal access for summer 2022 and School Year (SY) 2022–23.
- Child Nutrition Nationwide Waiver Update for Summer 2022 and School Year 2022-2023 - This memo provides background on the waivers in effect.
- COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #107- Nationwide Waiver to Extend Area Eligibility Waivers for Summer 2022 Operations – EXTENSION 5
- This waiver applies to the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
- This waiver allows current SFSP and SSO sponsors to operate open sites in non-area eligible locations when benefits are targeted to children in need.
- Please contact your program specialist if you are interested in this waiver.
- This waiver is in effect through September 30, 2022.
- COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #108- Nationwide Waiver to Allow Area Eligibility for Closed Enrolled Sites for Summer 2022 Operations – EXTENSION 4
- This waives the requirement for closed enrolled sites operating under the SFSP or SSO to collect income eligibility applications.
- This waiver was already in effect under a state requested waiver.
- This waiver is in effect through September 30, 2022.
- COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #109- Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program Reimbursement Rates for the Seamless Summer Option in Summer 2022
- This waiver allows meals and snacks served under the SSO to be reimbursed at the applicable SFSP reimbursement rates, rather than at the NSLP or SBP reimbursement rates.
- Reimbursement rates can be found on the Claims, Fiscal Information, and Resources webpage.
- This waiver is effective during summer 2022.
- COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #110- Waiver to Allow Fiscal Action Flexibility for Meal Pattern Violations Related to COVID-19 Supply Chain Disruptions Impacting School Meals in School Year 2022-2023 – EXTENSION
- This waiver applies to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and SSO.
- This waiver is available for any State where there is a supply chain disruption due to COVID–19.
OSPI CNS will post links to the waivers on the COVID-19 Nutrition & Meals Guidance webpage, when available.
Questions? Please email your program specialist or the CNS Team inbox.
The School Meal Programs’ renewal application for SY 22–23 opens this Thursday.
Applications for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP) are due by August 30 for Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCI) and September 30 for Local Education Agencies (LEA).
Bulletins with supplemental attachments will be released in the coming days. Please keep an eye out for CNS Updates.
Resources
Questions? Contact your OSPI CNS School Meals Program Specialist.
Sponsors who contracted with Food Service Management Companies (FSMCs) for school year 2021–22 are required to submit reconciliation of USDA foods received.
This report must be submitted to OSPI Child Nutrition Services (CNS) before the last day of your 2021–22 FSMC agreement. If CNS does not receive your reconciliation, we may not approve your FSMC Fact Sheet for school year 2022–23.
The following compliance requirement is documented in each sponsor's original FSMC agreement:
- Sponsors must conduct a reconciliation at least annually (and upon termination of the FSMC contract) to ensure that the FSMC has credited it for the value of all USDA donated foods received for use in the sponsors food service in the school year including USDA Direct Foods, the DOD fresh fruits & vegetable program and USDA Foods diverted for processing. [7 CFR 250.51(a)]
How to Submit
Submit your reconciliation via email to Jeff Booth, Audit and Financial Manager, and cc Marlon Hopkins, Foods Distribution Supervisor.
The Child Nutrition Database (CNDB), Release 25, is now available! The CNDB is a required part of the nutrient analysis software approved by USDA for use in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. It is a nutrient database of over 10,000 food items.
Software companies must submit to the USDA their nutrient analysis and certification of compliance software with the updated CNDB annually by July 1 to maintain USDA approval.
Action Steps for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and Local Schools:
After July 1, 2022, LEAs, and local schools should verify with their nutrient analysis software company to ensure that the software includes the most current version of the Child Nutrition Database (version CN25).
You can find the current CNDB on the USDA Team Nutrition webpage.
The USDA-approved software lists are found here:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released updated Civil Rights Division (CRD) policy memos.
Updates on Materials Containing the Nondiscrimination Statement
- The state prototype meal application materials for school year 2022–23 are available in English on the Meal Application and Verification Information webpage, under the Application Materials dropdown. These materials contain the updated 2022 nondiscrimination statement. We are awaiting translated materials from USDA.
- If your organization has already printed materials that include the previous nondiscrimination statement, you are not required to re-print documents.
- If your organization has not printed materials, please use the updated versions as they become available on the OSPI CNS webpages or utilize SY 20–21 or SY 21–22 materials.
- OSPI CNS is ordering updated And Justice for All Posters and will be distributing them over the coming months. Until you receive the updated posters, please continue using the 2019 And Justice for All poster.
- OSPI CNS will be updating reference sheets, materials, and webpages in the coming weeks.
Next Steps
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Effective Immediately: If not currently part of your organizational practices, update program discrimination complaint processing procedures to include complaints alleging sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination.
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Effective Immediately: Process any complaints alleging sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination as complaints of prohibited sex discrimination. There will not be a grace period for accepting and processing discrimination complaints based on sexual orientation and gender identity in FNS programs.
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Before August 3, 2022: Update webpages and documents with the updated USDA Child Nutrition Programs Nondiscrimination Statement.
- The USDA is currently working to translate the updated nondiscrimination statement into additional languages. Please do not translate the nondiscrimination statement at this time.
- OSPI CNS will update documents previously translated with the updated nondiscrimination statement. Please keep an eye out for future CNS Updates.
- The nondiscrimination statement is required on all documents referring to program access, program approval, and widely distributed documents. Examples include: items distributed to the public, landing page of web pages, student handbooks, brochures, letters to families, or press releases.
- Child Nutrition Program operators and sponsors are required to take reasonable steps to ensure program access and benefits to individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
Questions? Please email the Child Nutrition inbox so we may assist.
School Meal Programs Annual Training will be held 8/8 & 8/9 at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA.
Who Should Attend?
This training is meant to enhance your knowledge about the School Meal Programs and allow time for you to connect to other School Food Service Directors around the state. Training is free to attend; however, participants must pay for meals, parking, and any overnight stays.
Registration Information
- Each participant must register for the event using their own pdEnroller account.
- While there is an option to register more than one attendee with one account, you will not be able to register each person for different sessions. Due to this issue, we recommend each participant to register with their own account.
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Create your free pdEnroller account if you do not have one already.
- Please limit attendance to 3 people per LEA to ensure all who are interested in attending may have the opportunity.
- Registrants will receive a confirmation email with their selected sessions! Keep this email for your records!
Register for the SY 22–23 School Meal Programs Annual Training today!
Dates
- Monday, August 8 - Pre-Con Day
- New Director Training | 12–4 pm
- Are you new to the School Meal Programs? This session is aimed at new Food Service Directors and Managers. Join us for a 4-hour, interactive overview of Performance Standard 1: Certification & Benefit Issuance, Performance Standard 2: Meal Pattern Requirements, and General Areas with the goal to set you up for a successful school year.
- Participants will receive 4 hours of Professional Standards Credits for this session.
- SY 2022–23 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Annual Training | 1–4 pm
- Did you get funding to operate the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program for the upcoming school year? Join this pre-con session to review the program. Required for new FFVP operators, this session is appropriate for returning sponsors as well.
- Participants will receive 3 hours of Professional Standards Credits for this session.
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Tuesday, August 9 - Annual Training—Planned training sessions will include a variety of topics for both new and seasoned staff. Best Practice: Review the Annual Training Schedule to review session descriptions and class times before registering! Participants may receive up to 6.5 Professional Standards Credits for attending the full day training.
Recorded Training Option
All planned trainings will be recorded and posted to the School Meal Programs Annual Training Moodle course for those who are unable to attend this in-person training. Maximize your Professional Standards Credits by viewing all trainings! Please note: You must have a Moodle Account to access these annual trainings.
Questions? Please email Sam Brueske, Training and Communications Specialist.
Join us for a Scratch Cooking Recipe Development Training following the WSNA Conference in Spokane on Wednesday, July 27!
At this free, half-day training, you’ll learn the basics of recipe standardization from how to find and analyze a starting recipe through taste testing and scaling to volume. Other useful scratch cooking topics such as planning for success, using local ingredients, and how to promote your new recipes will also be covered.
Register for the Scratch Cooking Recipe Development Training
Date: Wednesday, July 27
Time: 1–5 pm PT
This training will be most useful for nutrition professionals responsible for scratch recipe development and menu planning.
This training will be repeated in three additional locations around the state in October. For additional information about this or other Team Nutrition Grant activities email Erica Lamson, Team Nutrition Grant Coordinator.
The Washington School Nutrition Association (WSNA) is statewide nonprofit association of child nutrition food service professionals with the goal of providing nutritious meals for children while placing a strong emphasis on continuing education for professionals.
Annual Summer Conference
WSNA's Annual State Conference is the event to be at! Join your fellow WSNA members to learn new things and have some fun! View the Conference At A Glance for an overview of the event.
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, Spokane City Center
Dates: Monday, July 25–Wednesday, July 27
Cost: Early Bird Rates are extended until July 8!
Members—$140, Non-Members–$165
Ready to sign up? See the WSNA Conference webpage for more info!
Contact Mindy Cass, WSNA Executive Director, for additional information and scholarship opportunities!
| July 7 |
SY 22–23 Renewal Application Opens in WINS |
| July 15 |
June Claims Due in WINS |
| August 1 |
May 60-day Claiming Deadline - if you haven't already, submit your claim |
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August 3
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Last day to update webpages and documents with the updated USDA Child Nutrition Programs Nondiscrimination Statement.
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| August 8–9 |
SY 22–23 School Meal Programs In-Person Annual Training |
| August 30 |
RCCIs - Deadline to Submit SY 22–23 Renewal Application |
| September 30 |
LEAs - Deadline to Submit SY 22–23 Renewal Application |
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