6/15/26 S.S.T.A.R. - School Meal Programs Newsletter

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 06/16/2026 09:44 AM PDT

School Meal Programs S.S.T.A.R.: Week of June 15, 2026

Update: Join OSPI at the Washington School Nutrition Association (WSNA) Annual Conference
Reminder: Register for School Meal Programs Annual Training
Farm to School Corner
Important Dates to Remember

Update: Join OSPI at the Washington School Nutrition Association (WSNA) Annual Conference

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) looks forward to seeing program sponsors at WSNA to share tools that help bring Washington agriculture into schools and communities across the state.

OSPI will be presenting sessions on Breakfast without Barriers, Harvest of the Season, Offer versus Serve Best Practices, Power Up Your Meal Programs, Equal Access to School Meals, Powerful Promotion, and OSPI updates.

Location: Greater Tacoma Convention Center

Dates: Monday, July 27 –Wednesday, July 29

Cost: Manager/ Employee(Member)—$225 | Non-Member— $350 
Directors/ Supervisors/ Chef(Member)—$275 |   Non-Members—$450

View the WSNA Annual Conference webpage for an overview of the event and registration information.

Reminder: Register for School Meal Programs Annual Training

School Meal Programs annual training is virtual this year! Join from the comfort of your office or home.

Attend up to 10 sessions, including Child Nutrition Hot Topics where participants will get a chance to network and share best practices.

Upcoming OSPI Trainings

School Meal Programs Annual Training

August 5, 6, and 13

Register

Upcoming Trainings Outside of OSPI

Washington School Nutrition Association (WSNA) Annual Conference

Join Child Nutrition professionals from across the state at the Tacoma Convention Center

Date: July 27–29

Time: 8am – 5pm

Register

Choose which days and sessions to attend that fit your schedule.

Wednesday, August 5 | 8 am–12 pm: Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) Cafeteria in a Classroom
Thursday, August 6 | 8 am–3:45 pm
- OSPI Updates (8–9 am)
- Crediting Two Ways: By Hand and RAW (9:15–10:30 am)
- Recipe Development: From Food Blog to Standardized and Scaled for School (10:45 am–12 pm)
- Confirming Your Monthly Orders in W-ACES: A Hands-On Walkthrough (1–2:15 pm)
- Completing Effective Production Records (2:30–3:45 pm)
Thursday August 13 | 8 am–3:45 pm
- OSPI Updates (8–9 am)
- Resource Management: Tools & Rules for Managing Program Finances (9:15–10:30 am)
- CNP Hot Topics (10:45 am–12 pm)
- Common AR Findings: How to Have a Painless Review (1–2:15 pm)
- Procurement in Practice: Find Success with Real-World Scenarios (2:30–3:45 pm)

Earn up to 15 hours of Professional Standards credit.

Register

Questions? Contact CNSTraining@k12.wa.us.

Farm to School Corner

Eat Local First Survey

Eat Local First is organizing a buyer network to connect those interested in sourcing locally with resources, opportunities, and others doing the same.

To support this effort, Eat Local First would like to know what resources child nutrition professionals would find valuable for starting or expanding local sourcing through this five-minute survey.

Take the Survey

Farmers Market Season Brings Farm to School Connections

Now through the fall is a great time to visit a local farmers market. Talk with producers to find out if they sell wholesale, learn what items will be available in the fall, exchange business cards, and plan to follow up and build connections.

Use the Find a Farmers Market - Washington Farmers Market to find nearby local markets.

Attend WSNA Annual Conference!

Child nutrition professionals from across the state will gather to connect and learn at the WSNA Annual Conference July 27–29 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) will host a Farm to School booth on Tuesday in the Exhibit Hall. Sponsors can pick up new OSPI Harvest of the Season posters and National Farm to School Month flyers and stickers to support their local food promotion efforts during Farm to School month in October.

Sponsors looking for fresh ideas and resources to engage students with Washington-grown foods, shouldn’t miss Monday’s conference session, “Where Washington Land and Water Meet Washington Schools: That’s Harvest of the Season!” Participants will learn about new Harvest of the Season resources designed to help schools and child nutrition programs promote local foods and provide meaningful agricultural education opportunities throughout the year.

Register

Farm to School Connections Week Follow-Up

OSPI thanks sponsors that participated in Farm to School Connections Week! Engagement in this event helps strengthen connections between United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs, local producers, and communities across Washington.

Share your Farm to School Connections Week activities through this feedback form. Your input helps us understand what worked well, identify opportunities for improvement, and plan future events that best support USDA Child Nutrition Program sponsors, providers, and partners.

Please take a few moments to share your experience by completing the feedback form here.

Save the Date: Taste Washington Day 2026

Taste Washington Day will be celebrated Wednesday, October 7, kicking off a month of activities recognizing National Farm to School (and CACFP) Month.

Taste Washington Day is an opportunity to showcase Washington-grown foods, connect children with local agriculture, and celebrate the important role that schools and USDA Child Nutrition Programs play in supporting healthy communities. Sponsors and providers are encouraged to start planning now. Ways to participate include:

local menu features
taste tests
educational activities
partnerships with local farmers and food producers

Additional resources and celebration ideas will be shared in late summer and early fall.

Important Dates to Remember

August 5	The Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) Cafeteria as a Classroom Training
August 6	School Meals Annual Training
August 13	School Meals Annual Training

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.