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The goal of the USDA School Meal Programs is to promote the health and well-being of children by providing nutritious, low-cost or free meals to children while school is in session. Program benefits must be made available to all eligible people in a non-discriminatory manner ensuring equal access to all participants. Federal law prohibits sponsors from discriminating on the basis of race, color, or national origin; and state law further prohibits discrimination on the basis of citizenship or immigration status.
Meal Programs for Students:
- United States citizenship or immigration status is not a condition of eligibility for free and reduced-price meal benefits.
- Sponsors must apply the same eligibility criteria for citizens and non-citizens.
- Sponsors may not request that applicants provide information regarding their citizenship or immigration status.
- Free school meal programs (CEP, HB 1238, Provision 2) do not require a student or their family to provide personal income information to the student’s school.
Best Practices:
- Clearly state that household members do not have to be U.S. citizens for children to qualify for free or reduced-price meals on LEA websites.
- Identify that completing the Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit (CNEEB) Application has no impact on immigration status.
- Include the above information on letters to households for the CNEEB application.
For More Information
In August, the USDA released a memo announcing revisions to 2 CFR Part 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principals, and Audit Requirements for federal awards. The revisions were effective October 1, 2024. All sponsors of the USDA Child Nutrition Programs must follow the Uniform Grant Guidance (UGG). These regulations are in addition to the Child Nutrition Program regulations and cover management of your federal award and procurement of goods and services.
The following revisions to Uniform Grant Guidance are most relevant to USDA Child Nutrition Programs:
- Increase in the de minimis indirect cost rate from 10% to 15% of Modified Total Direct Costs
Recipients and subrecipients, of federal awards that do not have a current federal negotiated indirect cost rate (including provisional rate) may elect to charge a de minimis rate of up to 15% of modified total direct costs (MTDC). The recipient or subrecipient is authorized to determine the appropriate rate up to this limit. eCFR: 2 CFR 200.414 – Indirect costs.
- Increase in the threshold for determining equipment from a per unit cost of $5,000 to $10,000
The updated regulations increased the threshold value for equipment from $5,000 to $10,000. This change affects Local Education Agencies (LEAs) who are required to seek prior approval for equipment purchases with a per unit value of $10,000 or more in accordance with 2 CFR 200.439. eCFR: 2 CFR 200.313 – Equipment & Procurement.
- Increase in the upper limit for computers as supplies from $5,000 to $10,000 and increase in the threshold for reporting unused supplies from an aggregate value of greater than $5,000 to $10,000
The updated regulations increased the threshold from $5,000 to $10,000. The definition of unused supplies means supplies that are in new condition, not having been used or opened before. The aggregate value of supplies consists of all supply types, not just like item supplies. eCFR: 2 CFR 200.314 – Supplies.
- Increase in the Single Audit Threshold from $750,000 to $1 million
Increased threshold for single audit or program-specific audit from $750,000 to $1,000,0000. Non-federal entities that expend $1,000,000 or more during the non-federal entities fiscal year in federal awards must have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year. For procurement transactions in which the contractor is made responsible for meeting program requirements, the auditee must ensure the requirements are met and review the contractor’s records. eCFR: 2 CFR 200.501 – Audit requirements.
Child Nutrition Services (CNS) is updating resources and systems to reflect the changes in the guidance.
Questions? Contact CNS Procurement.
The full text and final revisions to the UGG can be found at Federal Register :: Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance and frequently asked questions at uniformguidancefaqs.pdf.
USDA approved OSPI’s statewide waiver request to allow local program operators to serve meals in a non-congregate setting to participants fasting during Ramadan in 2025. With waiver approval, program operators may:
- Serve meals in a non-congregate setting (grab & go)
- Adjust the time of meal service
- Serve breakfast and lunch together
- Use a serve-only meal service style for grades 9–12
The waiver is available for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). In CACFP, this waiver is available for emergency shelters, adult day care centers, outside-school-hours care centers (OSHCC), and the at-risk afterschool component. Sponsors must be in good standing with OSPI to be considered for approval of waiver use.
Request the Ramadan 2025 Waiver
Effective: February 28 – March 30, 2025
Questions? Contact your School Meal Programs Specialist or CACFP Specialist.
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Conducted by the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN), this hybrid training experience is intended for new and aspiring school nutrition program directors. Lessons provide an overview of school nutrition programs, define the roles and responsibilities of a director, and review the relationship between local policies and state and federal regulations. |
Training Commitment:
- 3-days face-to-face virtual training (24 hours)
- 2 required self-paced iLearn (online) courses (11.5 hours)
Virtual training days and times:
- Thursday, March 13, 8am–5pm
- Thursday, March 20, 8am–5pm
- Thursday, March 27, 8am–5pm
Register for Introduction to School Nutrition Leadership here
Please register early. Unless 25 people register for the course by Friday, February 21, ICN will cancel the training.
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In summer 2025, Washington state will operate Summer EBT, “SUN Bucks,” a grocery benefit program that provides families $120 for each eligible school-aged child to buy groceries when school is out. This permanent program is in addition to free meals that kids of all ages can get at summer meal sites in their communities. |
Benefits of Summer EBT:
- Helps parents and caregivers buy healthy food 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.
Eligibility:
- Children who live in a household that already receives assistance program benefits (SNAP, TANF, FDPIR), OR
- Children who attend a school that operates the NSLP or 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 Summer EBT application
Help Families in Your Community:
Questions? Visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/sebt or https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sunbucks
The Washington State Legislature passed House Bill (HB) 1238 during the 2023 legislative session. House Bill 1238 requires Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to provide meals at no cost to students enrolled at elementary schools where 30% or more of enrolled children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. October 2024 building data is used to determine eligibility for school year (SY) 2025-26. Elementary schools are defined as schools consisting of any of the K–4 grade levels. Meals will be reimbursed at a rate equal to the USDA free rate.
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 Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit (CNEEB) applications. Impacted schools must also claim meals according to a student’s approved eligibility status. With the passage of HB 1238 Washington supplements paid meals at qualifying schools, providing reimbursement to bring it up to the federal free rate. LEAs impacted by this legislation will also be notified via email.
SY 2025–26 HB 1238 Eligible Schools Report
IMPORTANT! If a school has an Identified Student Percentage (ISP) of 40% or greater based off April 1 data, the school must apply for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and may not operate under HB 1238 instead. The CEP Eligibility List for SY 2025–26 will be available by April 15.
All LEAs that are newly eligible for HB 1238 in SY 2025–26 will be required to complete HB 1238 training prior to the start of the school year.
Questions? Please contact your School Meals Program Specialist or email SchoolMeals@k12.wa.us.
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Program operators offering the NSLP and SBP during SY 2024–25 are encouraged to join us for monthly webinars!
OSPI will discuss annual program requirements, new policy guidance, important reminders, and provide an opportunity to ask questions. Webinars are scheduled for the first Thursday of every month.
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Register for the School Meal Programs Monthly Webinars here!
Next webinar: March 6
Time: 2–3:30pm PT*
*The March webinar has been extended to include information about applying for the Healthy Meals Incentive Awards due June 30, 2025.
Please note: Register once to receive updates and reminders for each webinar.
Reminders
- When you register, there is an option at the bottom of the confirmation email to add the webinar to your calendar.
- A reminder email with the login link to the webinar is sent one hour before the session starts.
- A copy of the slides are sent to everyone registered for the session, even if they did not attend.
- Webinars are not recorded.
- Please keep an eye out for the webinar emails. If you do not see them, check your SPAM box.
Have topic suggestions for a future monthly webinar? Email suggestions to SchoolMeals@k12.wa.us.
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