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.
Important Details
- All sponsors are required to submit the VSR in WINS.
- Local Education Agencies (LEAs) 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.
|
Food establishments will be required to have at least one employee with a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certificate starting on March 1, 2023, per WAC 246-215-02107.
This includes unlicensed facilities such as LEA & community based At-Risk centers, nonresidential adult care facilities and emergency shelters.
Facilities that are licensed (DCYF, Military, or Tribal) are exempt from this requirement.
The CFPM’s responsibilities include training managers and staff, implementing a food safety program, and ensuring food safety requirements and procedures are followed. A CFPM is not required to be employed at each site. One employee may be the CFPM for all sites within an organization (such as the Food Service Director). If the CFPM leaves employment, a new CFPM must be on staff within 60 days.
The CFPM certificate must be obtained through an ANSI accredited organization. You can view a list of accredited organizations that issue food protection manager certifications on the Washington Department of Health’s (DOH) website. National Restaurant Association ServSafe, Food Protection Manager Training meets the CPFM certification requirements.
Resources:
|
Thank you to everyone who completed our survey to let us know how to present the Institute of Child Nutrition’s (ICN) Introduction to School Nutrition Leadership (ISNL) training.
Based on your feedback, we're excited to offer this training virtually in February 2023!
Register for the Training!
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.
Registration Now Closes at 4pm on Wednesday, January 25!
Register for the ISNL Training Here
Dates: February 15, February 22, March 1, March 8
Times: 8:00 am– 4:30 pm PT
Breaks and Lunch will be build into the training time. Participants will be required to attend each training session in order to receive a certificate of completion and Professional Standards Credits for this training.
There is a limit of 25 participants for the session. If we have reached the maximum number of participants, you will automatically be added to the waitlist.
Questions? Please reach out to the School Meals Team.
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 on the first Thursday of every month.
February’s webinar will focus on Procurement, Revenue from Non-Program Foods, Civil Rights, and FSMC Contract Monitoring!
Register for the School Meal Programs Monthly webinars here!
Dates: Monthly through 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.
|
|
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
Fiscal Analyst 3- Recruitment closes January 25, 2022
Administrative Program Specialist (In Training) Candidate Pool- Recruitment is ongoing
|
|
 |
Save the Date to attend the first ever regional Farm to School Roadshow: Connecting Local Producers and School Buyers.
Co-hosted by OSPI CNS and WSDA Regional Markets Program, this in-person training and networking event will bring together Washington school nutrition professionals and agricultural producers in an effort to promote and facilitate Farm to School purchasing relationships.
In this one-day, in-person training, school nutrition professionals will attend training sessions focused on procurement and culinary techniques for safe meat preparation, learn about successful Farm to School partnerships from school nutrition leaders and local food producers, and engage in a facilitated producer-buyer networking session. Don’t miss this event for building your Farm to School program!
Mark Your Calendar!
-
Tuesday, March 21- Northeast Washington ESD 101, Spokane
-
Tuesday, March 28- Mount Vernon Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, Mount Vernon
-
Thursday, March 30- Capitol Region ESD 113, Tumwater
-
To Be Determined- Yakima
We anticipate training to take place from 8 am–4 pm PT. More information and registration will be shared in upcoming CNS Newsletters.
Questions? Please email the CNS Farm to Child Nutrition Programs team.
OSPI CNS collaborated with school health experts across Washington to create an online, self-paced virtual training!
The training provides support and knowledge to educators, school staff, and others who work directly with students to implement best practice school wellness policies, including healthy rewards and celebrations, staff wellness, physical activities during the school day, and more!
Please share this training with those you work with to create school wellness policies! Educators may receive 7 Clock Hours for their professional development requirements for taking this training.
Enroll for the School Wellness Strategies Training today!
The second round of USDA Supply Chain Assistance Funds (SCA) funds will be issued at the end of January. SCA details and background information can be found in OSPI Bulletin No. 051-22.
About These Funds
SCA funds must be used to purchase domestic, unprocessed, or minimally processed food products for the school meal program. Labor, supplies, equipment, and administrative expenses are not allowable uses of these funds.
The USDA directed funding formula includes a base payment + a proportional amount based on October 2022 enrollment. School districts are paid through apportionment under revenue code 6198.11 and private schools and RCCI’s are paid through AFRS - identified as SCA Funds.
An additional attestation form is not required if one was previously submitted. Any LEA may choose to decline these funds by emailing Hydie Kidd, Fiscal Supervisor by Friday, January 13.
We anticipate the a third round of SCA funds to be issued in August 2023, for utilization in SY 2023-24.
Join Us for Office Hours!
Join OSPI CNS for Office Hours! During this time we will discuss best practices for using these funds and answer your questions!
Register for the SCA Funds Office Hours Here
Date: Wednesday, February 8
Time: 3–4 pm PT
These sessions will be held monthly! Join us on the second Wednesday of the month from 3–4 pm PT!
Office Hour Questions? Please reach out to Nichole Garden, Farm to Child Nutrition Program Specialist.
Help us determine which items to add to our Washington state product list for the 2023-24 school year!
The SY2023-24 USDA Foods Interest Survey is now open. Submit your response by 4pm PT on Wednesday, January 25, 2023.
Important Details
- This survey does not include all USDA available items.
- Items with the highest interest shown will be included on the 2023-24 Pre Order.
Responses received after 4:00pm PT on January 25, 2023, may not be considered.
Questions? Please email the Food Distribution Office.
|
March orders open Wednesday, February 1, and will close Wednesday, February 8, at 4 pm.
Surplus orders will open Thursday, February 9, at 1pm for groups 1 - 3, and 2 pm for all other groups. Surplus closes Friday, February 10, 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
-
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 and an order and distribution schedule.
Important Reminders
-
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
-
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.
|
Each year, sponsors are asked to complete a Pre-Order Survey as part of their Food Distribution Program requirements. This survey informs OSPI Food Distribution of the volume and types of foods we need to order for the entire upcoming year.
Join Us for a Webinar!
Join OSPI CNS as we discuss the importance of the Pre-Order Survey, how to plan for it, placing your FDP Orders, and share tools and resources for completing this process!
Register for the SY 23–24 Pre-Order Webinar
Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Time: 2–3 pm PT
Open Office Hours to Support You
In the weeks following the webinar, the FDP team will be hosting open office hours! Join in during these times to ask questions and receive additional support.
Register for the SY 23–24 Pre-Order Office Hours
Dates: Every Tuesday starting January 31–February 21
Time: 1–2 pm PT
|
What is the Pre-Order?
The Pre-Order Survey is your commitment and a preliminary order for the upcoming 2023-24 school year. The survey informs OSPI Food Distribution volume and types of foods we need to order for the entire 2023-24 School Year.
Who must complete the Pre-Order?
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) who plan to participate in the USDA Food Distribution program for SY 2023-24.
What do you have to do?
- Complete your initial survey by February 17th. The final submission is due on February 24, 2022.
- On February 21st, OSPI FDP will tally the states total quantity of products requested and remove any items that do not meet the state minimum truck load requirement.
- Starting 2:00 p.m. (2/21), you will need to review and revise your order for items that did not meet state truck load minimums and reallocate your entitlement dollars to other products.
- You will have until February 24th to finalize and complete this process. If you do not reallocate the entitlement dollars for these items, your entitlement will be returned to your account.
Reminder:
-
20 case minimum is required- This means your frozen order must have a minimum of 20 cases, and each dry order must have a minimum of 20 cases for delivery.
-
No August Delivery – The first delivery period is September 2023 and the final will be May 2024.
Here are some helpful tools:
Product Information Sheets
Questions? Email Sarah Davis or call 360-725-6215
|
