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Verification is the process of confirming free and reduced-price meal eligibility based on an application. The verification process begins each year on October 1 and concludes November 15. Results of the verification process are reported in the Verification Summary Report (VSR). The VSR must be submitted to OSPI by February 1 annually.
Public school districts, private schools, and residential child care institutions (RCCI) that determine eligibility for meals using meal applications must conduct verification. Please review the 9/26 Verification article for resources and details about completing the verification process.
Important Details
- All sponsors are required to submit the VSR in WINS.
- Local Education Agencies operating CEP or Provision 2 district-wide and RCCIs with no day students are not required to conduct verification. However, the VSR must still be submitted in WINS to certify enrollment information and attest that verification was not required. Please reference the VSR – CEP/Provision 2 District-Wide and RCCIs Reference Sheet.
- The VSR must be completed and submitted in WINS by February 1, 2023.
- Sponsors will not be able to submit their January Claim until their VSR is error free and submitted in WINS.
Resources
Questions about the verification process? Please contact your School Meals Program Specialist.
Join Us For Our New Monthly Webinar Series!
Program operators offering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) during the 22–23 school year are encouraged to join us for monthly webinars!
OSPI CNS will discuss annual program requirements, new policy guidance, important reminders, and provide an opportunity for you to ask questions.
Register for the School Meal Programs Monthly webinars here!
Dates: Monthly, January–June 2023
Time: 2–3pm PT
Please note: You only have to register once and you will receive updates and reminders for each webinar.
Reminders
- 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.
- Follow up emails with a copy of the slides are sent to everyone registered for the session, even if they did not attend.
- We do not post recordings to the CNS webpages.
- Please keep an eye out in your inbox for these emails, if you do not see them in your inbox please check your SPAM box.
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Grant Applications Must be in "Requested OSPI Approval" Status in iGrants to be Considered for an Award.
The Washington State Legislature provided $150,000 to support grant for schools seeking to implement more plant-based meal options in school year 2022–2023. These funds will be distributed as competitive grants up to $10,000 per school district to be spent during SY 2022–23.
Apply Today!
Consider submitting your application in iGrants as soon as possible to assist CNS in approving your application so purchases can be finalized before the June 30, 2023, deadline.
Plant Based School Meals Grant (Form Package 245) due by 4pm on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.
Don't Forget This Important Step! Grant applications must be in "Requested OSPI Approval" status in iGrants to be considered for an award.
Who Can Apply?
All K-12 schools, including public, charter, and tribal compact schools participating in the National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Program in Washington state are eligible to apply. All districts interested in making more plant-based entrees, sides, and/or dairy alternatives available to students on their menu are encouraged to apply.
Application and Grant Funding Resources
Why Serve Plant-Based School Meals?
There are a variety of benefits to serving plant-based school meal options, including:
- Supporting Student Health: Well-planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Additionally, many students follow plant-based diets for a variety of reasons.
- Serving Culturally Appropriate Meals: Providing plant-based menu offerings can make school meals more accessible to children following halal, kosher, and other specific cultural dietary practices.
- Supporting Local Agriculture: Washington has a bounty of local farmers and food businesses that are growing and selling plant-based protein foods, like lentils and soy products.
Questions? Please email the CNS Grants team inbox.
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Breakfast Meals for Kids (Form Package 383)
This grant opportunity is available to public school districts, tribal compact schools, and charter schools.
Focus Areas for This Grant
This grant focuses on starting a new meal program, increasing participation in an existing program, improving program meal quality, and improving the equipment and facilities used in an existing program.
Application and Grant Funding Resources
How to Apply
Applicants may apply for a single school or multiple schools, including central kitchens. Applications are completed in iGrants (Form Package 383) and are due before 4 pm PT, Thursday, January 19, 2023.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Evaluation Document, located on the Profile Page of iGrants, before starting the application.
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Child Nutrition Financial Report (CNFR)
Private schools and residential child care institutions (RCCIs) participating in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs are required to complete and submit a Child Nutrition Financial Report (CNFR) annually. This includes sponsors that participate in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Special Milk Program.
The CNFR reports the net resources for state fiscal year ending 2021 (July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022). The report is filed in Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS) and is due by December 31, 2022.
Local Education Agencies who do not submit their CNFR in WINS by December 31 will receive a claim error when submitting claims after this date. Claims will remain in error status until the CNFR is in submitted status.
Resources
Report 1505 for School Districts with FSMC
Child nutrition sponsors with Food Service Management Companies (FSMC) and those with inter-district agreements are required to complete and submit a Financial Information Report (Form 1505) annually.
The financial information gathered in Form 1505 is used to complete the 1800 Report. The 1800 Report is a compilation of reports and statistics for public schools to evaluate the performance of their food service operations.
Form 1505 records the distribution of FSMC expenditures for school fiscal year ending August 31, 2022.
Submit your 1505 report to Hydie Kidd, Fiscal Supervisor by December 31, 2022.
Questions? Contact your OSPI CNS School Meals Program Specialist.
Child Nutrition Services was awarded $3.6 million dollars for Local Food For Schools from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The purpose of the project is to purchase domestic, locally grown foods from local producers, small businesses, and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers for distribution to schools operating the NSLP.
Read the USDA Press Release about this project here!
About our Plan
- Washington will purchase locally-sourced frozen and dry storage food products.
- We will use the Food Distribution Program systems and processes for storage, ordering, and delivery of these products in school year 2023–24.
- Proposed foods to be purchased includes:
- Frozen food- raw animal protein products and frozen fruit
- Dry Storage- whole-grain flour and dried pulses
This project is in the early stages of development and we plan to share more information and plans as they become available.
Please visit the USDA AMS Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreements webpage for more information.
The OSPI School Meals Team is hosting the Institute of Child Nutrition’s (ICN) Introduction to School Nutrition Leadership (ISNL) training in February 2023.
This 30.5 hour training is for new and aspiring school nutrition program directors. Lessons provide an overview of school nutrition programs, define the role and responsibilities of a director, and review the relationship between local policies and State/Federal regulations.
Please fill out this short survey by Thursday, December 8, to let us know the best way to present this training!
Questions? Please reach out to Sam Brueske, Training and Communications Specialist.
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While it may not be a great time to start a school garden or plant seeds in the ground, winter is a great time to plan for future gardening efforts. Below is a list of some grant opportunities that can help increase your Farm to School programing!
Captain Planet Foundation and Delta Airlines, Project Learning Garden
Captain Planet supports garden programs through Project Learning Garden grants that provide garden supplies and a mobile cooking cart. Applications are due by December 15, 2022.
USDA's Farm to School Grant
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awards competitive Farm to School grants. These grants support planning, developing, and implementing farm to school programs by supporting state, regional, and local organizations. Applications are due by January 6, 2023. Learn more Farm to School Grant Program Applicant Resources webpage.
2023 GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant
The GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant, brought to you by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and KidsGardening, is designed to bring the life-enhancing benefits of gardens to communities across the United States. 160 programs will be awarded in 2023. Application Period: January 3, 2023 - February 10, 2023.
Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools
Through this program, schools can apply to receive a salad bar in their cafeteria. Applications are received year round and filled as funds become available. Applications are due by February 3, 2023.
OSPI Outdoor Education Grant
Schools and school districts are eligible to apply for grants of $35,000 or less to implement outdoor learning on or near school grounds or to attend outdoor school for the 2022-23 school year. Apply through iGrants (FP 357) by June 30, 2023.
Action for Healthy Kids
Providing schools and districts the resources for students to be healthy in body and mind, and be better prepared to learn. The application period for 2022-2023 District Partnership Grants is now open!
Green Our Planet School Garden Grants
Green Our Planet is providing grants to 200 public or charter schools in the United States to help fund Green Our Planet’s Hydroponics STEM Program and/or Green Our Planet’s GardenConnect STEM program this fall. Applications open on a rolling basis.
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation
This foundation provides high-quality fruit trees and shrubs, organic soil amendments, equipment, planting volunteers, and on-site orchard design work, and more, with the goal of improving the surrounding environment and providing a source of healthy nutrition. Applications open on a rolling basis.
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December orders open Wednesday, December 7, and will close Wednesday, December 14, at 4 pm.
Surplus orders will open Thursday, December 15, at 1pm for groups 1 - 3, and 2 pm for all other groups. Surplus closes Friday, December 16, at 4 pm.
For more information on your group number, please review the SY 2022–23 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
- Review the messages on the CNP Web message board for a current list of product availability and shortages
- New Fees - Delivery Fee Schedule for SY 2022–23
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New - Minimum 20 cases per warehouse (dry vs frozen).
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.
- 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 Office or call 360-725-6204.
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Are you in need of additional entitlement for the remainder of the School Year? If so, now is your chance!
Complete Your SY22–23 Additional Entitlement Request. The request form closes at 4pm PT on Friday, December 23, 2022.
Important Information Regarding Additional Entitlement
- Allotted amounts could range from zero (0) to the total amount requested based on your usage and state availability.
- This form must be completed by the Program or Ordering contact listed in CNPweb.
- May be used for the following FDP Programs:
The FDP team will review requests during the week of December 27, 2022.
Questions? Please email Sarah Davis or call 360-725-6215.
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