9/8/26 C.A.R.E. - Child and Adult Care Food Program Newsletter

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 09/08/2026 01:36 PM PDT

Child and Adult Care Food Program C.A.R.E.: Week of September 8, 2026

Action Item: Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 27) Renewal was Due September 1
Action Item: Meal Policy Statement for Non-Pricing Programs
Update: FY 27 Changes
Update: USDA Policy Memo TA 01-2026 Resources for Procuring Local Foods in SY 2026–2027
Important Dates to Remember

Action Item: Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 27) Renewal was Due September 1

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsors must annually renew their application with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) by September 1. Sponsors who submit their application for approval past the September 1 deadline may not be approved in time to receive reimbursement for meals served during October 2026.

For more information on the renewal process, refer to the June 1 CARE.

Action Item: Meal Policy Statement for Non-Pricing Programs

During the first week in August, all CACFP sponsors were sent a request to complete the Meal Policy Statement for Non-Pricing Programs. During a recent United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) management evaluation, USDA found that OSPI was out of compliance as OSPI had not required sponsors to complete a Meal Policy Statement before approval to operate the CACFP. As a result, all existing sponsors must complete the CACFP Meal Policy Statement for Non-Pricing Programs.

Upcoming Trainings Outside of OSPI

Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements

This four-hour, self-paced, online course focuses on CACFP meal pattern requirements. This training does not fulfill OSPI's annual CACFP training requirement.

Enroll

What is a Non-Pricing Program?

Non-pricing program means an independent center or sponsoring organization that does not charge participants a separate or additional cost for meals and snacks served through CACFP, including participants who are categorically eligible as reduced-price or paid. All CACFP sponsors in Washington state operate as non-pricing programs.

Why do we Need to Sign the Meal Policy Statement?

The Meal Policy Statement helps ensure all sponsors are operating within non-pricing program requirements. The statement confirms that organizations:

Do not charge children or participants separately for meals or snacks.
Serve all participants the same meals at no separate charge, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability, and do not discriminate in food service operations.
Ensures children in day care homes are not identified by whether meals are reimbursed at Tier I or Tier II rates and that free and reduced-price eligibility information for individual households is not shared with day care homes and is limited to those directly connected with program administration and enforcement.

Completed Meal Policy Statement for Non-Pricing Programs must be returned to CACFP@k12.wa.us before FY 27 Renewal can be approved. This requirement applies to all CACFP Sponsors and will only be collected one time.

Update: FY 27 Changes

Review OSPI’s USDA Policy Memo webpage for recently released memos. The USDA policy memos released in FY 26 offered guidance and clarifications for state agencies and sponsors operating CACFP, without substantive changes to regulations, except for SP 08-2026, CACFP 04-2026 Expanding Fluid Milk Options in Child Nutrition Programs.

Expanding Fluid Milk and Milk Substitute Options

SP 08-2026, CACFP 04-2026 Expanding Fluid Milk Options in Child Nutrition Programs now allows CACFP operators to serve whole and 2% milk to all participants ages two and older. Please refer to the May 19 Special Update for more information about this change.

Additionally, sponsors may now credit milk substitutes using the Milk Substitute Worksheet. For more information on this process, review the 3-2-26 CARE newsletter. These worksheets do not need to be submitted to OSPI once a substitute is approved. However, these worksheets must be kept on site and will be reviewed during administrative reviews.

Update: USDA Policy Memo TA 01-2026 Resources for Procuring Local Foods in SY 2026–2027

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.

Important Dates to Remember

September 15

Claims due in WINS by 2pm

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.