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Outreach resources are available in English and Spanish.
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USDA Resources
- Families can call the USDA National Hunger Clearinghouse at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) for English and
- 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273) for Spanish Monday–Friday from 5am–5pm PT.
- Summer Meals Locator in English and Spanish.
- Additional marketing materials can be found on the SFSP Requirements & Materials webpage, under the ‘Promotional Materials’ dropdown.
- Social media graphics
- Sample social media posts
- Print-ready flyers, banners, and stickers
- Free Summer Meals Outreach Materials offered in partnership with United Way of King County include:
Questions? Please contact your School Meals Program Specialist.
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) Application for School Year (SY) 2025–26 is open in WINS!
The FFVP provides a fresh fruit or vegetable snack to elementary school students and is an effective and creative way to introduce fresh produce as a healthy snack option. Funds are awarded to the highest free and reduced-price (FRP) percentage elementary schools. We invite all schools that meet the eligibility requirements to apply for this program.
There are two requirements for eligibility:
- 50% or more of the students enrolled in the school must be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
- The school must meet the definition of an elementary school.
The application deadline for SY 2025–26 is April 30, 2025.
Please review Bulletin 018-25: Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Application School Year 2025-26 for more details on the application process.
Application Process
Submit an application in the Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS).
Questions? Please email Rachel Floyd or call 360-742-4155
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The Meals for Washington Students (HB 1238) Eligible Schools Report for 2025–26 has been updated to identify schools that are required to apply for CEP this year and includes an updated list of eligible schools based off revised enrollment data.
2025–26 Meals for Washington Students Eligible Schools Report
IMPORTANT! If a school has an Identified Student Percentage (ISP) of 40% or greater based on April 1 data, the school must apply for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and may not operate under Meals for Washington Students instead. Review the CEP Eligible Schools Report for 2025–26 for a list of all schools eligible to apply for CEP.
Background
RCW 28A.235.135 (HB 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. This requirement is based on October 2024 Building Data. 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.
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, conduct verification, and claim meals according to a student’s approved eligibility status. More information and resources can be found on the Meals for Washington Students webpage.
Questions? Please contact your School Meals Program Specialist or email SchoolMeals@k12.wa.us.
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Annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines used to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price meals, for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, are now available.
These guidelines are used by schools, institutions, and facilities participating in the NSLP, School Breakfast Program (SBP), Special Milk Program for Children, CACFP, and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
Washington State will be participating in Summer EBT, “SUN Bucks,” a grocery benefit program that provides families with $120 for each eligible school-aged child to purchase groceries when school is out for summer break. This program is in addition to free meals that kids of all ages can get at summer meals sites in their communities.
LEAs operating the NSLP are required to upload student eligibility data to the Summer EBT Portal between May 1–15, 2025. Other upload dates will be made available for students that become newly eligible after the initial upload.
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Summer EBT Uploads
Student eligibility data must be uploaded to the Summer EBT portal between May 1–15, 2025. Important details:
- LEAs should have designated a Summer EBT contact person.
- OSPI will send user access emails with credentials, links, and instructions on May 1. If the Summer EBT contact person does not receive this information, please reach out to SchoolMeals@k12.wa.us.
Eligibility
- Child who lives in a household that already receives assistance program benefits (SNAP, TANF, FDPIR), OR
- Child who attends a school that operates the NSLP or SBP, AND
- Is directly certified for free and reduced-price school meals, or
- Submits a qualifying Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit (CNEEB) Application, or
- Submits a Summer EBT application
Please add WA.SEBT.TechSupport@accenture.com to your safe senders list to ensure you can receive important information about Summer EBT uploads.
Please direct families to the SUN Bucks website or to the call center at 1-833-543-3230.
Resources
Questions? Visit Summer EBT Food Program for Children SUN Bucks in Washington | DSHS or Summer EBT | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov).
OSPI Child Nutrition Services is transitioning to the Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) system for file transfers that include sensitive information like financial data and student information. This helps us:
- Boost security for sensitive data
- Meet state and federal data protection rules
- Make file transfers more efficient and reliable
- Prepare for future tech improvements
All School Meal Program Sponsors will receive their login information from CNSAS@k12.wa.us by April 15.
All users associated with the sponsoring organization will have the same username and password to access SFTP. Login information will be emailed to the following contacts listed in WINS:
- Food Service Director
- NSLP Contact
- Business Manager
Please retain the login information – SFTP will be used to collect data for Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) applications, Administrative Reviews, and other School Meal Programs’ processes.
Questions? Please email CNSAS@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: May 1
Time: 2–3 PM
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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