2/27 CNS Special Update: SFSP Opening Day Begins 3/1

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 02/27/2024 07:30 AM PST

2/27 CNS Special Update: SFSP Opening Day Begins 3/1

Update: Summer Food Service Program Opens This Friday!
Update: Summer Meals for Kids Grant – CNS Application Workbook Due Friday, March 29 by 4pm
Update: Farm to SFSP – WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grant
Important Dates to Remember

Update: Summer Food Service Program Opens This Friday!

This Special SFSP Update is your guide to SFSP and Summer Meals Grant Application resources! Please read thoroughly and reach out to your assigned SFSP specialist with any questions that arise.

Reminder: New SFSP Sponsors or Those with a Gap in Participation

If your organization will be applying to participate in SFSP this year for the first time as a new sponsor OR your organization operated SFSP in 2022 or earlier, but chose not to operate in 2023 (what we call a Gap in Service) these instructions are for you to complete prior to beginning on the SFSP Timeline Tasks listed below.

Please visit our New Sponsors | OSPI web page and read the information under the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) dropdown.
Complete the New Sponsor Questionnaire. Use this checklist to collect the documents needed to complete the questionnaire. Information entered in an unsubmitted or incomplete survey will be lost.

Once a checklist is received, Megan Harlan, SFSP Program Supervisor, will contact you with questions and steps for continuing the onboarding process. Start early, as it can take up to a month to be approved to apply.

Questions? Please email our summer meals inbox: summermeals@k12.wa.us

2024 Summer Food Service Program Timeline

March

1. SFSP Application Components: March 1st

WINS Application & Survey are available for sponsors to begin completing for their 2024 SFSP Application submission.

The 2024 SFSP Application Checklist and related documents including a link to the application survey can be found on our SFSP Requirements and Materials page under “Application Materials”.

2. SFSP Annual Training Opens in Canvas March 1

For sponsors who plan to complete online Canvas training to satisfy their annual SFSP Training requirement you can begin completing the required training modules in your specific track. Canvas login information can be found in our 2024 application checklist OR on our Summer Food Service Program Training webpage.

New Sponsor Track – This track is for new sponsors, sponsors who did not operate in summer 2023, new lead administrators, and returning sponsors as part of required Administrative Review Corrective Action.
Returning Sponsor Track – Sponsors who operated in 2023, who have the same lead administrators, and did not need to complete training due to required A/R Corrective Action.

3. Summer Meals for Kids Grant Application Opens March 1

Optional grant funding available for Returning SFSP sponsors in good standing. You can find all the application materials on our Child Nutrition Grants webpage under “Summer Meals for Kids Grant”. Please see our SM4K article below for additional details.

4. Farm to SFSP Grant – WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grant Application Opens – March 1^st

Optional grant funding available for all current SFSP/SSO/CACFP/NSLP sponsors to apply. You can find all application materials on WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grant webpage. Please see our Farm to SFSP article below for additional details.

5. United Way of King County Non-Congregate Rural Funding and Interest Survey Open

Optional grant funding opportunity available for all current SFSP sponsors who meet the requirements for and intend to apply to operate a non-congregate meal service option or site.

6. SFSP In-Person Annual Training in Tumwater March 28

For all sponsors that prefer an in-person training to satisfy their SFSP annual training requirement. Specific training tracks for both Community Sponsors and Local Education Agencies (LEAs).

SFSP Annual Training at Tumwater ESD 113
Register Here: https://www.pdenroller.org/ospi/catalog/165288
Date: Thursday, March 28, 2024
Time: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

7. Summer Meals for Kids Grant Application Deadline March 29 at 4pm PT

This is a firm deadline for sponsors who want to submit a Summer Meals for Kids grant application.

April

1. SFSP In-Person Annual Training in Spokane April 16

For sponsors that prefer an in-person training to satisfy their SFSP annual training requirement. Specific training tracks for both Community Sponsors and Local Education Agencies (LEAs).

SFSP Annual Training at Spokane ESD 101
Register Here: https://www.pdenroller.org/ospi/catalog/165291
Date: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Time: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

2. Continue to work on completing SFSP application submission and online Canvas training, if applicable.

3. Farm to SFSP Grant – WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grant Application Deadline April TBD

This is a firm deadline for sponsors who want to submit a F2S Application. Review the WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grant webpage for updated application deadline information and dates.

4. SFSP Application for June Operations Start Date – April 30 Suggested Application Submission Deadline.

Sponsors who plan on beginning SFSP operations in June should have their application submitted by the end of April to ensure approval by June.

May

1. One month left to submit SFSP application (WINS Application & Survey) and complete online Canvas annual training requirements.

The 2024 SFSP Application Checklist and related documents, including a link to the application survey can be found on our SFSP Requirements and Materials page under “Application Materials".

June

1. SFSP Application Submission Deadline June 1 – WINS Application & Survey must be submitted no later than close of business June 1, 2024.

An application submission is not an automatic approval and summer feeding operations should not occur prior to your application approval if you want to claim reimbursement for meals served. Please plan your application submission accordingly knowing that OSPI has 30 days to provide an application approval once an accurate and complete submission has been submitted.

2. SFSP Application Submission Federal Deadline June 15

This is a firm, no exceptions deadline for accepting and approving SFSP applications based on federal guidance. SFSP application submissions received after 6/1/2024 will only be reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis.

Update: Summer Meals for Kids Grant – CNS Application Workbook Due Friday, March 29 by 4pm

Apply for the Summer Meals for Kids Grant (SMFK)!

The application workbook is due Friday, March 29, 2024 by 4:00pm PT.

The Washington State legislature has provided $100,000 for the Summer Meals for Kids grant. This is a competitive grant for existing Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors in good standing.

These funds may be used to:

Increase the number of sites participating in the summer meal programs and/or the reach of a site through a meal distribution program.
Increase the number of meals served in existing programs and sites.
Begin or expand promotion and outreach for SFSP, including Washington's Farm-to-Summer Week (July 15–19, 2024).
Provide training to staff and volunteers for operation of new equipment, outreach activities, etc.
Improve meal quality, equipment, or small supplies used in the program.

Special emphasis for Summer 2024 is:

Adding new SFSP sites;
Expanding an existing program;
Programs operating in a rural area (as defined by USDA or No Kid Hungry Summer Meals Map; and/or
Programs that have never received a grant from OSPI CNS in the past.

Ideas from previous applications:

Marketing materials such as vehicle wraps, billboard space, sandwich boards, or printing of marketing materials (i.e. stickers, door hangers, etc.);
Meal delivery vans/busses/food trucks;
Portable plug-in coolers;
Portable hand washing stations;
Gardening equipment and supplies for meal site gardens that are used to provide food to the program and/or support nutrition education activities.

Find all the application materials on our Child Nutrition Grants webpage under "Summer Meals for Kids Grant". This grant application is no longer hosted in iGrants.

Questions? Email the CNS Grants team.

Update: Farm to SFSP – WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grant

The WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grant is a competitive reimbursement grant available to schools, childcare centers, and summer food service programs for the purchase and use of Washington-grown foods in child nutrition programs.

Timeline:

Round 2 Grant Period: July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025

Application Opens: late February/early March 2024
Application Closes: April 2024
Awards Announced: June 2024

Application Eligibility for Round 2:

Active program operators of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP - childcare), and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or Seamless Summer Option (SSO).

Family Day Care Home providers may not apply individually, but they may participate through the organization that oversees them.

Tribal schools and Tribal early learning centers.
Recipients of a 2023–2025 Round 1 WSDA Purchasing Grant are not eligible to apply.

Important Dates to Remember

March 1	SFSP/SSO Applications Open
March 28	SFSP Annual Training \| Tumwater - Register
April 16	SFSP Annual Training \| Spokane - Register
June 1	SFSP/SSO Application Submission Deadline

ALL STUDENTS PREPARED FOR POST-SECONDARY PATHWAYS, CAREERS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI oversees K-12 public education in Washington state. Our mission is to provide funding, resources, tools, data and technical assistance that enable educators to ensure students succeed in our public schools, are prepared to access post-secondary training and education, and are equipped to thrive in their careers and lives.

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