3/24 Child Nutrition Services Special Update

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 03/24/2025 01:23 PM PDT

3/24 Child Nutrition Services Special Update

Update: Local Food for Schools and Local Food for Childcare

Update: Local Food for Schools and Local Food for Childcare

During the 2023–24 and 2024–25 school years, Washington received $3.6M in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) funding for the Local Foods for School (LFS) program. LFS funding supported the purchase of domestic, locally grown foods from local producers, small businesses, and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers for distribution to schools.

USDA announced the continuation of the LFS program and a new Local Foods for Child Care (LFCC) program in December of 2024. Washington was to receive $8,840,854 in LFS funds and $2,687,472 in LFCC funds. On March 7,2025 OSPI received a Termination Notice for the Local Food for Schools and Local Food for Child Care program project agreement. The termination noticed cited that the agreement “no longer effectuates agency priorities.”

OSPI remains committed to supporting children’s access to local, healthy, and delicious food. As a result, LFS foods will continue to be available for the 2025–26 school year, with interested districts covering the full cost of products, including shipping and warehousing. Additionally, OSPI will continue its Farm to School programing in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Agriculture promoting children’s academic achievement, health, and wellbeing through local food purchases, nutrition and agricultural education, and hands-on learning opportunities.

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.

ADA NOTIFICATION FOR OSPI CHILD NUTRITION SERVICES EVENTS
To arrange accommodations for persons with disabilities for OSPI Child Nutrition Services events, please contact the Child Nutrition Services Team at 360-725-6200, TTY 360-664-3631, or by email, child.nutrition@k12.wa.us at least three business days before the event. Please note that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require OSPI to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.

This Institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

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OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200, 360-725-6162 (TTY: 360-664-3631), equity@k12.wa.us.

This Institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider.