Welcome to SFSP/SSO 2024!
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
The 2024 SFSP WINS application, Application Checklist/Survey and Online Canvas Training Option were made available to sponsors on March 1, 2024. For SFSP, please review “2/27 CNS Special Update: SFSP Opening Day Begins 3/1” for a full timeline for program considerations, grant opportunities, and deadlines. Once you review, please reach out to your assigned OSPI SFSP Specialist for any additional questions.
Seamless Summer Option (SSO)
The 2024 SSO WINS Application is now open! For SSO, please review the SSO Application Checklist for details on the application process and requirements. All applications must be submitted by June 1, 2024. Once you review the application checklist, please reach out to your assigned OSPI School Meals Program Specialist with any questions.
Annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced-price meals, free milk, and Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer benefits for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 are now available.
These guidelines are used by schools, institutions, and facilities participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
2024–25 Income Guidelines
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The Child Nutrition (CN) Labeling Manual is now available online. The CN Labeling Manual provides food manufacturers with instructions on how to apply for and obtain approval for a Child Nutrition (CN) label. It also contains instructions for calculating the contribution that meats, meat alternates, poultry, and seafood products make toward the meal pattern requirements for Child Nutrition Programs (CNP). CN labels are approved by USDA and provide a way for a manufacturer to demonstrate how a processed food product contributes to the meal pattern requirements in CNP. |
Access the CN Labeling Manual here https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/labeling-manual
In addition, food manufacturers and CNP operators can find other CN label-related resources at the CN Labeling Program website, which includes policy guidance and technical assistance.
The USDA recently released the Supporting the Use of Traditional Indigenous Foods in the Child Nutrition Programs Cooperative Agreement on Grants.gov, which will award $2 million in total grant funding to up to four organizations. The purpose of this funding is:
- To provide regionally focused training and technical assistance for nutrition professionals in schools serving tribal communities.
- To increase procurement, preparation, and crediting of traditional Indigenous foods in schools serving tribal communities.
- To ensure that nutrition education is provided to accompany the traditional Indigenous foods that are included in meals.
Applicants must be led and staffed primarily by members of Federally Recognized Tribes and/or Native Hawaiians.
The grant funds may be used to support the use of traditional Indigenous foods in the Summer Food Service Program.
Additional Information:
- Deadline to submit proposals has been extended to April 8, 2024.
- Grant applications must be submitted through gov.
On February 21, 2024, Food and Nutrition Service published the Proposed Rule entitled “Serious Deficiency Process in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)” in the Federal Register. The proposed rule can be viewed here: Federal Register Notice
Through this proposed rulemaking, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is proposing important modifications to the serious deficiency process in CACFP, extending the process to CACFP unaffiliated sponsored centers, and establishing a serious deficiency process in SFSP. These changes will improve consistency in language and process among statute, regulations, and guidance for both CACFP and SFSP. Additionally, these changes will improve consistency in the serious deficiency process within and across States and strengthen program integrity.
Request for Comments
Written comments must be received on or before May 21, 2024 to be assured of consideration.
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Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
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Mail: Send comments to: Navneet Kaur Sandhu, Program Integrity and Innovation Division, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314.
All written comments submitted in response to the provisions of this proposed rule will be included in the record and will be made available to the public. Please be advised that the substance of the comments and the identity of the individuals or entities submitting the comments will be subject to public disclosure. USDA will make the written comments publicly available on the internet via https://www.regulations.gov.
Please see FNS’s Serious Deficiency Process in the CACFP and SFSP webpage for more information, including a summary chart of proposed provisions.
The purpose of this memorandum is to update earlier guidance originally issued for Summer 2023 operations, and to ensure consistency with the provisions of the interim final rulemaking, Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs (88 FR 90230). Future Questions and Answers guidance will address additional implementation topics based on feedback received by State agencies and program stakeholders.
This memorandum and its attachment supersedes SFSP 01-2023, SP 05-2023, Implementation Guidance: Summer 2023 Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas – Revised, issued February 28, 2023, and SFSP 07-2023, SP 14-2023, Questions and Answers #2: Summer 2023 Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas, issued April 20, 2023.
PDF copy found HERE. Word copy found HERE.
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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
To support sponsors in integrating local foods into your meals, OSPI is excited to feature Harvest of the Month resource sheets. Each month we will highlight one local food that will be in season the following month. The resource sheets will include fun facts, nutritional information, selection and storage tips, recipe ideas, and educational resources.
For the month of April we are featuring Kale, click here to check it out. You can find this and future Harvest of the Month resource sheets on our Farm to Summer webpage.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Farm to School team is visiting several locations around the state to bring together Farm to School food buyers and agricultural producers in an effort to support new Farm to School purchasing relationships. Join for a one-hour facilitated networking session to learn about successful partnerships and meet one-on-one with interested farmers and food producers.
March 2024 Locations and dates:
Register here for the following location:
Walla Walla
WSU Extension Walla Walla - 328 West Poplar St.
Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Time: 11:00am–12:00pm
This is a free event, and light refreshments are provided. Contact aslonim@agr.wa.gov for questions about this event.
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Grow farm to school in your community with the support of an entire network ! |
Modeled after Vermont FEED, the Farm to School Institute is a year-long professional learning experience that brings site-based teams together to build relationships, skills, and a collaborative action plan to further their farm to school goals. Team members bring a variety of expertise and may include classroom educators, administrators, nutrition services staff, and community partners. With the support of a coach, teams spend the school year putting their plans into action and strengthening their capacity to integrate lasting impacts across classrooms, cafeterias, and communities. Learn more on Ecotrust’s Institute Webpage.
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March 15
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Claims Due in WINS by 5pm
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March 28
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SFSP Annual Training | Tumwater - Register
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April 8
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Deadline to Submit Proposal for Traditional Indigenous Foods Grant
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April 16
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SFSP Annual Training | Spokane - Register
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June 1
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SFSP/SSO Application Submission Deadline
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