Direct Certification
Direct certification is required by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and must be conducted monthly under Washington state law (RCW 28A.235.280(3)). Students are directly certified for free or reduced-price meals because of participation in the following programs:
- Basic Food
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Foster Care
- Some Medicaid Programs
- Migrant Students
Potentially Enrolled and Definitely Enrolled Students
At the beginning of each school year, LEAs won't have students identified as definitely enrolled, and the definitely enrolled list will be blank. Once the district data manager for OSPI’s Education Data System (EDS) uploads CEDARS enrollment, usually around October 1, the definitely enrolled list will populate.
In the meantime, LEAs will use the potentially enrolled list to identify directly certified students. Potentially enrolled means the student may be enrolled in the LEA for school year (SY) 2026–27, but until district enrollment is submitted in CEDARS, their enrollment cannot be confirmed. Potentially enrolled students are directly certified for free and reduced-price meals.
Direct certification matches Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and CEDARS data to identify students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Students who are directly certified do not need to submit a meal application. The direct certification list is in EDS. The EDS user manual and other resources are on the CNS webpages.
Verification
Verification begins October 1 and ends November 15. The Verification Summary Report is due to OSPI by February 1. The summary report will be submitted in the Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS).
All sponsors who claim meals according to free, reduced-price, and paid meal eligibility must complete the annual verification process for SY 2026–27.
Sponsors operating Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2 district-wide are exempt from conducting verification; however, they must annually submit the Verification Summary Report to report enrollment and certify that verification was not conducted.
Resources:
- Standard Counting & Claiming:
- Meals for Washington Students- House Bill (HB) 1238:
SUN Bucks cards have been issued to almost 450,000 students; and cards are still being processed. The last batch will be issued at the end of September. Cards may have been held for this later batch if households were selected for income verification or DSHS needed to review names or addresses. Thank you to sponsors who have been helping families still waiting for their cards.
If households have questions about their individual card status, they should call the SUN Bucks Contact Center (833-543-3230). The OSPI Summer EBT team does not have individual card information, but can help sponsors respond to household questions.
Questions? Email SummerEBT@k12.wa.us.
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The SY 2026–27 Adult Meal Pricing Tool is now available! Adult meal prices must be set at a price sufficient to cover the overall cost of the meal, including the value of any USDA Foods used in the production of the adult meals.
Adult Meal Pricing Formulas
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National School Lunch Program (NSLP): Paid Meal Price + Value of USDA Foods + Performance-Based Reimbursement + NSLP Paid Reimbursement Rate.
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CEP & Provision II: NSLP Free Reimbursement Rate + Value of USDA Foods + Performance-Based Reimbursement.
- USDA does not provide guidance on adult breakfast pricing. The price charged should cover the cost of breakfast or be equivalent to the free breakfast reimbursement rate.
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Resource: Adult Meal Pricing Reference Sheet
This memo reminds schools, sponsors, and institutions participating in any USDA child nutrition program of the various resources available to help operators procure local foods. Resources include a list of local procurement policy memos, fact sheets, and farm to school data and statistics.
For tailored resources to support local purchasing, OSPI recently launched Harvest of the Season. Funded by a USDA Farm to School Grant, Harvest of the Season is a comprehensive initiative to support child nutrition program operators incorporate foods from Washington in the kitchen, classrooms, and at home. Read more about Harvest of the Season in the July 20 SSTAR and visit the Harvest of the Season webpage to access all the resources.
Local Procurement 101: A Refresher for the 2026–2027 School Year
Join the USDA as part of the Harvest to Hallways Initiative for a webinar that will inspire and empower sponsors to incorporate local foods into school menus. This webinar will explore procurement strategies, the geographic preference option, and USDA farm to school resources.
There are two opportunities to attend.
Date: September 9
Time: 8–9 am
Date: September 15
Time: 11 am–12 pm
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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 will be sent one week before and one day before the session starts.
- A copy of the slides will be sent to everyone registered for the session, even if they did not attend.
- Webinars are not recorded.
Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians can earn 8.25 CPEUs for Basics of Operating School Meals Canvas Course
Registered Dietitians (RD/RDN) and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTR/NDTR) can earn Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs) for completing the Performance Standard 2 modules in the Basics of Operating School Meal Programs course in Canvas.
Basics of Operating School Meal Programs: Performance Standard 2 (Canvas Course)
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Awards 8.25 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s (CDR) CPEU Prior Approval Program for completion after August 1, 2026.
- Offers a self-paced online training option for food service directors and menu planners who can’t attend the live, virtual Basics of Operating School Meals training or want a refresher.
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Performance Standard 2 focuses on meal pattern, menu planning, crediting, production records, special dietary needs, and more.
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Enroll now: Canvas Enrollment Link - Basics of Operating School Meals
- Sponsors who completed the Basics of Operating School Meals Canvas course previously can retake it to refresh skills and earn CPEUs. Email CNSTraining@k12.wa.us for instructions.
OSPI is applying for CDR’s approval to offer CPEUs for select school meals program trainings and will announce new opportunities as they are approved.
Additional trainings on program requirements, such as meal pattern, 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.
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As we start a new school year, review these important reminders for submitting August and September meal claims in WINS.
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August Operating Days
- If a district had more than 10 operating days in August, a separate August claim is required.
- A separate claim may also be needed if a school operated NSLP or SBP for summer school in August.
- If a school has fewer than 10 operating days, include those August meal counts in the September claim. WINS will not allow a separate August claim.
Enrollment Data Reminder
- For August and September claims, WINS uses October building data from the previous school year because current-year enrollment data isn't submitted until the October claim.
What if There’s an Error?
- If meal claims exceed enrollment-based limits, WINS will flag an error.
- Entering updated enrollment data is allowed, and WINS will verify it using an edit check.
Resources:
Questions? Contact CNS Fiscal Services.
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