9/25/26 Child Nutrition Services Special Update

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 09/25/2026 12:35 PM PDT

Child Nutrition Services Special Update, September 25, 2026

Action Item: Verification for School Year (SY) 2026–27
Action Item: New Federal Funding Opportunity for Schools and School Food Authorities—Applications Due October 13
Important Dates to Remember

Action Item: Verification for School Year (SY) 2026–27

Verification Process

Verification is the process of confirming free and reduced-price meal eligibility based on an application. The verification process begins each year on October 1 and concludes November 15. Results of the verification process (Verification Summary Report) must be submitted to Child Nutrition Services by February 1, 2027.

All Local Education Agencies (LEAs) that claim meals according to free, reduced-price, and paid meal eligibility must conduct verification.

Verification Method Reminders

New LEAs must use the 3% focused method.
LEAs with a 20% or greater non-response rate from verification in SY 2025–26 must use the 3% focused method.
LEAs that did not conduct verification in SY 2025–26 must use the 3% focused method.

Sponsors Required to Conduct Verification

All sponsors who claim meals according to free, reduced-price, and paid meal eligibility should move forward with the annual verification process for SY 2026–27. This includes schools and LEAs offering meals at no cost under Meals for Washington Students, operating standard counting and claiming or conducting a Provision 2 Base Year. Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCIs) with no day students and LEAs operating Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2 in a non-base year at all sites are not required to complete verification.

Materials

Verification materials and tools are available on the Meal Application and Verification webpage including:

Timeline for Completing Verification Tasks
Verification Non-Response Rate 20% or Greater for SY 2025–26
Sampling worksheets
Waiver of Second Party Confirmation Review
Verification letter templates

Timeline

Please use the Timeline for Completing Verification Tasks to ensure you complete all steps of the verification process.

Start of the school year to October 1
- Process applications and run the direct certification list often.
October 1
- Count newly submitted applications for SY 2026–27.
- Determine the verification method and select appropriate sample.
- Conduct a Second Party Confirmation Review or, if applicable, save waiver.
October 1 – November 15
- Send verification notices.
- Conduct follow-up attempts and send letters of adverse action as applicable.
Last Operating Day in October
- Count and record the number of newly eligible students in SY 2026–27 who are:
  - Directly certified for Basic Food
  - Directly certified for Medicaid Free
  - Directly certified for Medicaid Reduced
  - Directly certified for TANF, Foster, FDPIR, Migrant, Homeless, or Head Start/ECEAP
  - Eligible for free meals; paper applications with case numbers and foster child
  - Eligible for free meals; paper application – household size and income
  - Eligible for reduced-price meals; paper application – household size and income
- Prior to February 1
  - Complete and submit the Verification Summary Report in WINS.

Questions about the verification process? LEAs should contact their School Meal Programs Specialist or email SchoolMeals@k12.wa.us.

Action Item: New Federal Funding Opportunity for Schools and School Food Authorities—Applications Due October 13

A new funding opportunity announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will award $32.5 million for innovative school-based projects to find solutions to school meals challenges. Public schools, public charter schools, public school districts, and School Food Authorities are eligible to apply. Applications are due October 13.

Developing Evidence for Programs to Ensure Nutrition for Development (DEPEND), will award one-time federal funding to learn how schools can improve meal quality in ways that can be sustained over time and test strategies to provide healthier meals that students choose and consume.

This funding opportunity is designed to answer the overarching question: What procurement, infrastructure, workforce, operational, and student-centered strategies enable schools to provide healthier, appealing meals at scale within existing recurring school-meal resources? Funded projects will be grouped into learning cohorts focused on finding sustainable solutions to four systems challenges:

Food Purchasing & Supply: How can schools obtain healthier ingredients at lower or more predictable cost?
Workforce & Food Production: How can schools efficiently produce healthier meals with a constrained workforce?
Student Demand & Meal Economics: How can healthier meals become meals students choose and consume?
Transforming Operations & Infrastructure: Which targeted infrastructure and operating-model changes unlock sustainable improvements in school meal quality?

Eligible Applicants: Public schools, public charter schools, public school districts, and School Food Authorities.

Key Dates:

Applications are due October 13.
Funding decisions are anticipated October 23.
Anticipated project dates: December 1, 2026–August 31, 2027

Learn More & Apply:

Important Dates to Remember

October 1	Verification begins
October 13	DEPEND Funding Opportunity Applications Due
November 15	Complete Verification process
February 1	Verification Summary Report due in WINS

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.

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