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During our May monthly webinar, OSPI Child Nutrition Services and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) presented information regarding Pandemic EBT (P-EBT). While we're waiting for approval for our Summer 2023 P-EBT plan, we wanted to share a few reminders!
What is Summer P-EBT?
Qualifying school-aged children will receive a one-time lump sum of $120 per child to cover the summer period through July and August 2023. School-aged children enrolled at the end of the school year, in Washington state schools that operate the NSLP who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals and all students enrolled in a school operating the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) are eligible for Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits.
How to Prepare for Summer 2023 P-EBT
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Gather information for your information upload! Data must be uploaded into the P-EBT portal before you leave for summer break.
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Expect promotion and communication tools in your inbox! OSPI CNS is working with Accenture and DSHS to email promo materials to your P-EBT contact.
- Prepare to share information to the communities you serve. Work with partners to determine the best way to get in contact with families.
- This may include communications teams, McKinney-Vento, foster care liaisons, equity coordinators, language access coordinators, PTA groups, and community partners.
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Continue to collect and process Meal Applications for households. Newly eligible households that submit and are approved as free or reduced price eligible, prior to the end of the school year quality for P-EBT benefits.
Questions? Please contact your School Meals Program Specialist.
Schools offering summer programs of academic, enrichment, or remedial services where 50% or more of the children enrolled in the school qualify for free or reduced-price lunch must operate a summer meal program that is open to the community (RCW 28A.235.160).
Local Education Agencies must operate open sites through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or Seamless Summer Option (SSO). The resources below can help you decide which option is best for your school or district:
Application Materials
Applications for SFSP and SSO are due by June 15, 2023. Reference the resources below for information on the application process:
Exemption Requests
LEAs must submit an exemption request to either extend the NSLP/SBP or not operate a summer meal program at summer school sites where at least 50% of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. SFSP/SSO Exemption Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved in advance.
Questions? Please contact your School Meals Program Specialist.
All public school districts and private schools must conduct outreach for summer meals each school year as required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) even if your LEA is not operating a summer meal program.
Districts must advertise the availability of summer meals before the end of the school year. Outreach information includes distribution locations, meal times, and contact information through your regular communication channels.
There are a number of resources in both English and Spanish to raise awareness in your community.
- USDA Resources
- Families can call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479)
- For Spanish, families can call 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273)
- Summer Meals Locator- Promote this tool in English or Spanish.
- USDA National Hunger Hotline- can be reached Monday–Friday
- No Kid Hungry Resources
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The OSPI Communication Toolkit is located on the SFSP Requirements & Materials webpage, under the ‘Promotional Materials’ dropdown. There you'll find:
- Social Media Graphics and Sample Social Media Posts
- Marketing Materials such as flyers, banner imagery you can use to print materials, and more!
Program operators offering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) during the 2022–23 School Year (SY) 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 every month.
About the June Webinar
June’s webinar is the final webinar for the 2022–23 School Meals Monthly Webinar series. Join us for updates regarding Local Food for Schools, SY 2023–24 details, and end of year reminders!
Register for the School Meal Programs Monthly Webinars Here!
Date: Thursday, June 1
Time: 2–3 pm PT
We will release a SY 2023–24 School Meals Monthly Webinar series in the coming months, keep an eye out for upcoming CNS Updates!
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 login to 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.
Questions? Please contact your School Meals Program Specialist.
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SY 2023–24 Meal Application Materials Available
The state prototype meal application for school year 2023–24 is now available in English and Spanish on the Meal Application and Verification Information webpage, under the Application Materials dropdown. We are awaiting additional translations of the 2022 non-discrimination statement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) before making additional translations available.
Local education agencies (LEAs) may use the state prototype meal application materials or USDA meal application materials. LEAs may not produce their own materials or alter the state prototype materials (except to include their district nondiscrimination statement).
Please note: You must identify on the meal application materials where households should return completed meal applications. Each year USDA receives meal applications from households in Washington state as households are mailing them to the Civil Rights Complaint address in Alexandria, Virginia.
Family Income Survey (FIS) materials for SY 2023–24 for LEAs operating the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or a Provision 2 non-base year will be available by June 12.
Additional Materials
Additional application materials are available in both English and Spanish on the Meal Application and Verification Information webpage, under the Application Materials dropdown.
- Letter to Households—Choose the Letter to Household based on LEA type and program operations.
- Public School Districts
- Private Schools & Residential Child Care Institutions
- Non-Pricing Programs and Provision 2 Programs operating a base year
- Notice of Eligibility Determination Letters
- Combined Approval/Denial of Benefits
- Notice of Approval
- Notice of Denial
- Notice of Eligibility-Direct Certification
- Notice of Eligibility-Direct Certification Medicaid
LEAs may use the letters produced by their electronic systems. Ensure the letters meet all requirements outlined in the Eligibility Manual for School Meals.
Web-based and Scanned Meal Application Materials
There are no required changes to the meal application materials for school year 2023–24, pre-approval is not needed before using updated materials. A reference sheet is available highlighting the requirements for web-based and scanned meal applications. LEAs are responsible to ensure meal application materials meet all USDA requirements.
Limited English Proficiency
LEAs must ensure students have access to school meals by meeting the language needs of their school district population. USDA translates application materials into 33 languages to help you meet this need.
Questions? Please contact your School Meals Program Specialist.
Dietary specification requirements for Sodium at lunch will change to Sodium Target 1a starting on July 1, 2023. There will be no change to the sodium limits for breakfast. Updated Meal Pattern Charts are available on the Meal Pattern & Menu Planning webpage.
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Age/Grade Group
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Target 1:
July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023
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Target 1a:
Effective July 1, 2023
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Grades K–5
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< 1,230 mg
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< 1,110 mg
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Grade 6–8
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< 1,360 mg
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< 1,225 mg
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Grades 9–12
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< 1,420 mg
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< 1,280 mg
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Sodium Target 1a was included in the Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Final Rule published in February 2022. The transitional standards are intended to provide schools with short-term standards. The proposed rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Revisions to Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, was published in February 2023 and aims to provide schools with long-term, durable nutrition standards in line with the latest nutrition science.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) intends to release a final rule based off feedback gathered during the proposed rule’s comment period in early 2024.
Looking for low sodium recipes? Check out these resources!
Questions? Please contact your School Meals Program Specialist.
As part of a cooperative agreement to develop and implement the USDA Food and Nutrition Service's Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative, Action for Healthy Kids is offering competitive grants (up to $150,000 per SFA) for small and/or rural school food authorities to support efforts to improve the nutritional quality of their school meals.
The deadline for submitting an application is Friday, May 26, at 2 pm PT.
Letter of State Agency Support
A Letter of Support from OSPI must be included with the application to confirm that a SFA is in good standing. Please email your School Meals Program Specialist to request the letter prior to the application deadline.
OSPI and the United Way of King County will be hosting Office Hours from the end of April throughout the month of May to discuss Breakfast After the Bell (BAB) Implementation Plans! Each week will be focused on a specific topic and will include opportunity for questions, resource sharing, and networking.
Register for Office Hours here
Time: 2–3 pm PT
Dates
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May 24
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Meal Counting
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May 31
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Promotion & Communication
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Unable to attend the BAB webinar last month? The BAB Webinar Recording is now available.
School Lunch Hero Day is an annual celebration that celebrates the hardworking professionals in the school meal profession. Between preparing healthy meals for America’s students, adhering to strict nutrition standards, navigating student food allergies, and offering service with a smile, school nutrition professionals are true heroes.
Join us in celebrating the Winlock and Steilacoom School Districts!
Winlock Miller Elementary School in Winlock School District honored their School Lunch Heroes on Friday, May 5, with handmade notes and crafts from students!
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Steilacoom Historical School District also honored their school lunch heroes in style with food service staff dressing as the superheroes that they are!
Thank you to all our School Food Service Staff across the state!
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Make plans to be in office!
September orders open Wednesday, July 26, and will close Wednesday, August 2, at 4 pm PT.
Surplus orders will open Thursday, August 3, at 1 pm for groups 1 and 2; 1:30 pm for group 3; and 2 pm for group 4.
Surplus closes Friday, August 4, at 4 pm.
For more information on your group number, please review the Order and Delivery Schedule 2023–24
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: New minimum of 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.
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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.
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Fill out the SY 2022–23 Carryover form between June 1–16!
Sponsors who use diversions can request carryover of this year's processor pounds by submitting the Carryover Request Form. Sponsors will have the entire 2023–24 school year to utilize awarded carryover pounds.
Carryover is not automatic, requests must be submitted if you would like to use pounds next year.
Note: The link to the form will be posted to the CNPweb Message Board on June 1, 2023.
Questions? Please email Sarah Davis, FDP Administrative Program Specialist.
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