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Child Nutrition Services (CNS) released Bulletin 033-23: Additional Supply Chain Assistance (SCA) Funding for Child Nutrition Programs. This bulletin details the distribution of a third round of SCA funds for Local Education Agencies (LEA) operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Funds are scheduled to be distributed through the Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS) in September 2023.
Complete Your SCA Funds Survey
SCA funds are intended to support LEAs who continue to experience supply chain disruption and financial difficulties related to the operations of the School Meal Programs. LEAs must let us know if they would like to receive these funds by completing a brief survey.
Please complete the SCA Funds survey by July 31, 2023.
Please note that USDA recently announced a fourth round of SCA funds for SY 2023–24. We will share details at a later date.
Questions? Please email Wendy Barkley, Director of Child Nutrition Services Operations and Administration.
School Meal Programs Annual Training will be held August 9–10 at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA.
Who Should Attend Annual Training?
This training is meant to enhance your knowledge about the School Meal Programs and allow time for you to connect to other School Meal Program operators around the state. Training is free to attend; however, participants must pay for meals, parking, and any overnight stays. Review the 7/10 Newsletter for more details.
Register for the SY 2023–24 School Meal Programs Annual Training by August 2!
Best Practice: Review the Annual Training Schedule to review session descriptions and class times before registering! Participants may receive up to 8 Professional Standards Credits per day.
Questions? Please email the School Meals Team inbox.
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The SY 23-24 Adult Meal Pricing Tool is now available! Adult meal prices must be set at a price that will cover the overall cost of the meal, including the value of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foods. Federal funds, student payments, and other nonprofit food service revenues cannot be used to support the cost of adult meals.
Please review the Adult Meal Pricing Reference Sheet for additional information
Adult Meal Pricing Formulas
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP): Paid Meal Price + Value of USDA Foods + Performance-Based Reimbursement + NSLP Paid Reimbursement Rate
- Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) & Provision II: NSLP Free Reimbursement Rate + Value of USDA Foods + Performance-Based Reimbursement.
Reimbursement rates are posted to the Claims, Fiscal Information, and Resources webpage.
Questions? Contact your OSPI CNS School Meals Program Specialist.
The Washington State Legislature passed House Bill (HB) 1238 during the 2023 legislative session. House Bill 1238 requires LEAs to provide meals at no cost to students enrolled at elementary schools where 40% or more of enrolled children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. This requirement begins SY 2023–24 and is based off October 2022 data. Elementary schools are defined as schools consisting of any of the K–4 grade levels.
State Funding will Supplement Federal Funds for Paid Meals
Qualifying elementary schools that are not operating Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2 for both breakfast and lunch must continue to collect free and reduced-price meal applications. Impacted schools must also claim meals according to a student’s approved eligibility status. With the passage of HB 1238 Washington state supplements paid meals at qualifying schools, providing reimbursement to bring it up to the federal free rate.
All meals served at elementary schools with a free and reduced-price percentage greater than or equal to 40% will be reimbursed at a rate equal to the USDA free rate beginning in SY 2023–24.
2023–24 HB 1238 Eligible Schools Report
Join us for a webinar!
The webinar will review the impacts and requirements for offering meals at no cost under HB 1238.
Register for the HB 1238 Webinar
Date: Wednesday, August 30
Time: 2–3 pm PT
Resources
Questions? Please contact your School Meal Programs Specialist.
Finding Income Applications Just Got Easier!
OSPI CNS created a webpage to help Local Education Agencies (LEAs) with the collection of student income data. Using this webpage, free and reduced-price meal applications and family income surveys are now at household's fingertips!
Households may scan the QR Code below or go to the Washington School Meals Application Finder webpage to find their LEA’s meal application and/or family income survey.
The data collected on these forms can help schools receive funding for several state need-based funding mechanisms such as E-Rate and the Learning Assistance Program (LAP). Information collected may also be used to qualify students for additional support and reduced fees. It is critical that parents return the income forms so LEAs can count all eligible students.
Please take a look at your website and identify ways that households can more easily access these resources.
Examples
- Include information on where to access electronic income forms on the food service or parent section of webpages.
- Make paper copies of forms easily accessible.
- Be clear about which form your LEA uses and at which schools.
- Clearly state that a household may apply for benefits at any time during the school year.
- Clearly state that household members do not have to be U.S. citizens for children to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
- Ensure the application materials, FIS, and other communications with households concerning eligibility determinations are made available in a language parents and guardians understand, based on the community you serve.
Questions? Please reach out to the School Meal Team inbox for technical assistance and best practices.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released Child Nutrition Program reimbursement rates for the upcoming school year.
Rates are effective July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, and are posted on the CNS Claims, Fiscal Information and Resources webpage.
Reimbursement Rates for National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP)
Meal
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Free
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Reduced-Price
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Paid
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Breakfast
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$2.28
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$1.98
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$0.38
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Severe Need Breakfast
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$2.73
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$2.43
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$0.38
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Lunch (less than 60%)
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$4.25
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$3.85
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$0.40
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Lunch (60% or more)
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$4.27
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$3.87
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$0.42
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Performance Based Reimbursement
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$0.08
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$0.08
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$0.08
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Snack
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$1.17
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$0.58
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$0.10
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Reimbursement Rates for Special Milk Program
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Program Option
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All Milk
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Paid Milk
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Free Milk
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Pricing programs without free option
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$0.2625
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N/A
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N/A
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Pricing programs with free option
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N/A
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$0.2625
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Average cost per 1/2 pint of milk
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Non-pricing programs
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$0.2625
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N/A
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N/A
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USDA Foods Commodity Rates
USDA recently released the Value of Donated Foods rates for July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024. The SY 2023–24 per meal rate for NSLP and CACFP is $0.2950 cents, which is a decrease from $0.3000 in SY 2022–23.
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For NSLP the effective SY 2023-24 NSLP rate is $0.3650 (the sum of the per meal rate ($0.2950 cents) plus the 12% provision dollars and the $20M breakfast monies). The Planned Assistance Level (PAL) is based on the Total Lunches Served from the previous school year.
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The CACFP per meal cash in lieu of USDA foods rate is $0.2950. The Planned Assistance Level (PAL) is based on the total number of lunches and suppers served from the previous school year.
Civil Rights Requirements
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated their Nondiscrimination Statement (NDS) in May 2022 to clarify prohibitions against discrimination based on sex in all USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) programs.
Translations Update
The USDA posted translations of the updated statement to their Nondiscrimination Statement webpage. When utilizing these materials, be sure to use the document listed under the "All Other Programs NDS" column.
Requirements
Child Nutrition Program sponsors have requirements to notify potential participants of their civil rights as part of operating the programs. Please review the 7/10 Nondiscrimination Statement update for details regarding public notification, steps to complete, and resources.
Questions? Contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is supporting USDA’s mission of transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on local and regional food production while committing to support Tribal Nations’ goal of food sovereignty. To promote serving traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs, FNS has created the Serving Traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs webpage, as a hub of resources to assist Indigenous communities.
Resources
- The Crediting in Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet series
- Crediting Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program
- Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (FBG)
- Gardens in Tribal Communities fact sheet
- USDA standardized recipes
FNS also released an update to the FBG that allows users to search for traditional Indigenous foods such as tepary beans, dandelion greens, and pheasant.
Explore these resources and more on the Serving Traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs webpage today!
Action for Healthy Kids (AFKH) is offering Recognition Awards to celebrate School Food Authorities (SFAs) that have made significant improvements to the nutritional quality of their school meals. This is part of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service’s Healthy Meals Incentives initiative.
SFAs meeting Recognition Award criteria will receive national and local recognition, as well as an awardee toolkit that includes digital assets and travel stipends to attend a national Healthy Meals Summit!
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through June 30, 2025.
Eligibility Criteria
- Operate the NSLP and/or School Breakfast Program.
- Obtain a State Agency Letter of Support that the SFA does not have any outstanding corrective action and that previous findings have been resolved.
- Please request the State Agency Letter of Support from your Program Specialist.
Recognition Award Categories
- Breakfast Trailblazer Award
- Small and/or Rural SFA Breakfast Trailblazer Award
- Lunch Trailblazer Award
- Small and/or Rural SFA Lunch Trailblazer Award
- Innovative School Lunch Makeover Award
- Innovation in the Cultural Diversity of School Meals Award
- Innovation in the Preparation of School Meals Award
- Innovation in Nutrition Education Award
Want More Information?
Register for the Healthy Meal Incentives Recognition Awards Information Webinar
Date: Thursday, September 21
Time: 12–1pm PT
For more information and to see the full list of criteria for each award, please visit Healthy Meals Incentives (HMI) Recognition Awards webpage.
Looking to increase the amount of locally sourced food served in your meal program?
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Farm to School Purchasing Grant provides funding for SFAs participating in NSLP to purchase Washington Grown foods from November 2023 – June 2025.
The application will open this August, please visit the Farm to School Grant webpage.
Make plans to submit your USDA Foods Order!
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: Minimum of 20 cases per warehouse (dry vs frozen).
The Ordering and Receiving webpage has multiple resources to assist you in placing your order including instructions and the 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 the 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 team inbox or call 360-725-6204.
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