- Submit the Sponsor Application, Site Application(s), and Site Calendar(s) in WINS.
- Complete the School Meals Annual Renewal Tasks (SMART) Form
- This form will collect information on hiring standards, Summer-EBT contacts, Paid Lunch Equity compliance, and operational flexibilities.
Review the renewal bulletins for information about the annual renewal process.
Applications are due September 1. Late or incomplete applications may not be approved in time to claim reimbursement for August or September meals.
Please Note: Only click “Submit” once a WINS site application or calendar is 100% accurate and completed. Pro Tip: Research and resolve errors before submission. These actions serve as a time-saver for both sponsors and the approving specialist.
Resources
Questions? Contact your School Meals Program Specialist.
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OSPI recently awarded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) funds to sites for School Year (SY) 2026–27. A total of 211 schools were offered funding to increase student access to fresh produce and provide nutrition education.
Congratulations to award recipients! Awarded sites can be found in WINS and funding amounts will be posted on the FFVP webpage soon.
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Questions? Contact Rachel Floyd, Special Programs Specialist.
Reimbursement Rates for National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP)
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Meal
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Free
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Reduced-Price
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Paid
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Breakfast
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$2.54
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$2.24
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$0.42
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Severe Need Breakfast
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$3.05
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$2.75
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$0.42
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Lunch (less than 60%)
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$4.76
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$4.36
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$0.45
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Lunch (60% or more)
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$4.78
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$4.38
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$0.47
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Performance Based Reimbursement
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$0.09
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$0.09
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$0.09
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Snack
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$1.30
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$0.65
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$0.12
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Reimbursement Rates for Special Milk Program
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Program Option
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All Milk
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Paid Milk
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Free Milk
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Pricing Programs without free option
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$0.28
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N/A
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Pricing Programs with free option
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N/A
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$0.28
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Average cost per 1/2 pint of milk
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Non-pricing Programs
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$0.28
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N/A
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N/A
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USDA Foods Commodity Rates — NSLP and CACFP: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
For the school year July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027, the national average minimum value of donated foods (or cash in lieu) is 47.00 cents per meal for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and 32.00 cents per meal for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
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Starting SY 2026–27, the new State Breakfast Assistance rate will be $0.26 per free and reduced-price breakfast. The intent of these funds is to support access to school breakfast.
This new rate will be monitored monthly and is subject to change. Program operators will be updated if the rate changes through the C.A.R.E. newsletter, monthly webinars, and WINS alerts
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Important Requirements and Information
- Sponsors who contract with Food Service Management Companies (FSMCs) and/or vendors for program year 2026-27 must complete the FSMC/Vendor Fact Sheet in WINS. The fact sheet must be submitted and approved before the first claim can be entered in WINS, or the claim will go into error status.
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- Sponsors who contract with FSMCs must maintain signature authority over reimbursement claims in WINS. FSMC employees may prepare the claims and provide supporting data, but sponsor staff must review, approve, and submit the claims for reimbursement in WINS per 7 CFR 210.16(a)(5).
- Review the FSMC Contract Monitoring Reference Sheet for more information on oversight requirements for sponsors contracting with FSMCs.
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) contracting with an FSMC must retain control of the quality, extent, and general nature of food service and ensure that the food service operation conforms with the School Food Authority’s (SFA) contract with the FSMC. SP 05-2020 clarifies that a school district employee must fulfill the role of the Food Service Director (FSD) and thus meet the hiring standards and training requirements for Professional Standards outlined in 7 CFR 210.30.
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Program operators offering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) during SY 2026-27 are encouraged to join OSPI monthly webinars. Webinars are held on the first Thursday of the month from October through June.
OSPI will discuss annual program requirements, new policy guidance, important reminders, Summer-EBT uploads, and provide an opportunity to ask questions.
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First Webinar: October 1
Time: 2–3 pm
Please note: Register once to receive updates and reminders for each webinar.
Reminders
- When you register, a confirmation email will be sent containing a .ics file to save the event to your digital calendar.
- A reminder email with the login link to the webinar is sent one-week and one-day 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.
Processing Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit (CNEEB) Applications
This training will review processing CNEEB applications and direct certification. It is intended for officials regularly processing CNEEB applications in LEAs.
Date: September 15
Time: 2–3:30 pm
Basics of Operating the School Meal Programs for Food Service
This two-part training is helpful for those who started working in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) within the last five years in a food service director or managerial role. This training will focus on the basics of operating a successful school meal program, including meal pattern, menu planning, USDA Foods, and accurate point-of-service meal counting.
Participants must attend both days of training.
Date: October 28 & November 4
Time: 1–4 pm
Additional trainings on program requirements, such as meal pattern, Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), and Meals for Washington Students (HB 1238), are available on the School Meal Programs Canvas Course. A Canvas account is required to access these trainings.
Questions? Contact the School Meals team.
In response to sponsor interest, OSPI is pursuing approval to offer Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs) through the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s (CDR) CPEU Prior Approval Program for select school meals program trainings.
Registered Dietitians (RD/RDN) and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTR/NDTR) can now earn 1.25 CPEUs for Resource Management: Tools & Rules for Program Finances offered during Annual Training on August 13, 9:15–10:30 am.
- Resource Management awards 1.25 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration's CPEU Prior Approval Program.
- Review USDA's Resource Management areas and explore tools to assist with compliance, including the Paid Lunch Equity and Nonprogram Food Revenue tools. Dive into basic financial reports and metrics for decision-making to support the financial health of program operations.
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Register by selecting this session on the Annual Training Registration Form.
OSPI is pleased to support registered dietitians’ professional development needs and is applying for approval for additional Continuing Professional Education activities. A CPE activity application for Basics of Operating School Meal Programs: Performance Standard 2 (Canvas course) is pending CDR review and approval for 8.25 CPEUs. If approved, it will be announced in an upcoming newsletter.
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