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May
Less than one week left to submit your SFSP/SSO application (WINS Application & Survey) and complete online Canvas annual training requirements.
June
1. SFSP/SSO 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. Meals served cannot be claimed for days prior to an approved application. Plan ahead — OSPI has 30 days to approve a complete and accurate application once submitted.
2. SFSP Federal Application Deadline June 15
This is a USDA requirement with no exceptions. SFSP application submissions received after June 1, 2024 will only be reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis.
The entire guide may be accessed on the USDA Webpage, at SFSP Administration Guide. Program operators should direct any questions concerning this guidance to OSPI.
United Way of King County and OSPI are excited to provide high quality marketing materials to Summer Meals Providers and Champions statewide! If you are a sponsor, site, or community partner looking to promote Free Summer Meals in your community, please use this form to request physical outreach materials be mailed to you for FREE!
Promotion at the start of summer is key to maximizing awareness in your community. Take 2 minutes to place an order for FREE yard signs, flyers, stickers, bookmarks, door hangers, and more TODAY to ensure quick delivery!
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is pleased to share the availability of the Turnip the Beet 2024 Nomination Packet. The Turnip the Beet Award recognizes outstanding summer meal program sponsors across the nation who work hard to offer high quality meals to children that are appetizing, appealing, and nutritious during the summer months. Please consider promoting the opportunity to apply for a Turnip the Beet award. More information can be found on the Turnip the Beet webpage.
This memorandum provides guidance to Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operators regarding Sections 739, 747, 748, 769, and 770 of Division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 which:
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Allows the substitution of vegetables, including starchy vegetables, for fruits without including vegetables from other subgroups in weekly menus under the School Breakfast Program (SBP) in SY 2024–25.
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Prohibits funds from being used to procure raw or processed poultry and seafood products from the People’s Republic of China in Child Nutrition Programs through September 30, 2024.
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Provides guidance related to pricing of paid lunches for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), during school year SY 2024–25.
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Requires the USDA to allow the service of low-fat and fat-free flavored milk for grades K–12 in NSLP/SBP and for participants over age 6 in CACFP.
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Maintains current sodium limits in NSLP/SBP through SY 2026–27 and prohibits the sodium limit from being more restrictive than the Target 2 sodium limit published in the 2012 Final Rule ‘Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs.”
This memorandum provides initial implementation guidance on the Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Final Rule. The memorandum:
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Includes an initial implementation chart,
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Provides an overview of the provisions finalized in the rule,
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Outlines which Child Nutrition Programs are impacted,
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Details the implementation date for each provision.
SP 22-2024, CACFP 08-2024, SFSP 13-2024: Geographic Preference Expansion Related to the Final Rule titled, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
This memorandum provides a detailed explanation of the expanded geographic preference option, which allows program operators to:
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Use local as a specification for local unprocessed agricultural products;
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Use a defined scoring advantage for local unprocessed agricultural products;
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Adopt a mix of both strategies.
Washington state is launching Summer EBT, “SUN Bucks”, a new grocery benefits program that provides families $120 for each eligible school-aged child to purchase groceries when school is out. This new, permanent program is in addition to free meals that kids of all ages can get at summer meal sites in their communities.
• Helps parents and caregivers buy healthy foods for their children.
• Gives families the flexibility to select foods that fit their culture and lifestyle.
• Improves food security and diet quality for participating children.
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Children are school-aged (ages 8–18 years) and live in a household that receives assistance program benefits (SNAP, TANF, FDPIR), OR
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Child attends a school that operates the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program (NSLP/SBP), AND
- Is directly certified for free and reduced-price school meals, or
- Submits a qualifying free and reduced-price meal application, or
- Submits a qualifying Family Income Survey (FIS), or
- Submits a SUN Bucks application
Help Families in Your Community:
- Spread the word to families in your Community! Use the Summer EBT Outreach Toolkit to promote the program with families.
- Order outreach materials to promote SUN Bucks at summer meal sites!
- Encourage families who may have eligible children to submit a free and reduced-price meal application or Family Income Survey with their local school district.
- Inform households that participation does not impact immigration status.
Questions? Visit https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sunbucks.
OSPI and USDA are aware that concerns regarding physical safety at Summer Meal Program sites have increased in recent years, with sponsors indicating a need for additional technical assistance and Program flexibilities in this area. USDA may consider targeted requests for a waiver of the congregate feeding requirement. The safety of sponsors, staff and participants is our priority. If you experience any challenges and/or safety issues during SFSP operations, please reach out to the summer meals team to discuss options.
To advertise and promote Summer Meal Sites, you can provide the following information to your communities:
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Summer Meal Site Finder by Phone: 1-866-348-6479 or text "Summer Meals" to 97779
Federal regulations and guidance do not require SFSP sponsors to publicly post health inspection reports at non-school sites. 7 CFR 225.6(i)(9) requires SFSP sponsors to maintain proper health and safety standards in conformance with all applicable state and local laws and regulations. Therefore, if state or local laws and regulations require health inspections to be publicly visible, sponsors must comply.
School Food Authorities (SFA) that operate summer sites that are located at schools must comply with program regulations at 7 CFR 210.13(b) and 220.7(a)(2), which state that the most recent inspection report must be posted in a publicly visible location.
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The most recent version that you may have is the 2019 “And Justice for All” poster. The 2019 poster was updated to have the USDA building as the image and should say “Revised September 2019” in the bottom left-hand corner. Please continue using the 2019 “And Justice for All” poster in areas where participants will see it.
Need the 2019 Poster? Please contact your OSPI Program Specialist.
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June 1
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SFSP/SSO Application Submission Deadline
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