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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 are reported in the Verification Summary Report (VSR). The VSR must be submitted to OSPI by February 1 annually.
Important Details
- All sponsors are required to submit the VSR in the Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS) by February 1, 2027.
- Local Education Agencies (LEAs) operating Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2 district-wide and Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCIs) with no day students are not required to conduct verification. However, the VSR still must be submitted in WINS to certify enrollment information and attest that verification was not required. Reference the VSR – CEP/Provision 2 District-Wide and RCCIs Reference Sheet for instructions.
Sponsors will not be able to submit their January claim until their VSR is error-free and submitted in WINS.
Questions? Contact a School Meals Program Specialist.
Summer EBT, also known as SUN Bucks, is a grocery benefit program to help families buy food during the summer. LEAs play an important role in identifying eligible students.
OSPI has launched the Summer EBT Canvas course to help LEAs understand their role in Summer EBT.
All Summer EBT points of contact should enroll in this self-paced, online training. Enroll in the Summer EBT Canvas Course. After enrolling, the course can be accessed at Summer EBT Training.
If a division other than school food service compiles the student upload, share this training with them.
This training is organized by the tasks that need to be completed each season.
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Fall (available now): An overview of the Summer EBT program and eligibility.
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Winter (opens November 5): Includes tools and instructions for preparing for Summer EBT data uploads.
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Spring (under construction): Expectations and instructions for CNEEB sharing for verification; SUN Bucks communications tips.
The first upload period is expected to be in January or February.
Questions? Contact summerEBT@k12.wa.us.
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OSPI thanks sponsors for all their help connecting eligible students to Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) in 2026.
Due to funding delays, some students received their SUN Bucks cards in August, September, or October. The final batch of cards will be issued in the next few weeks. Students who receive their cards late still have 122 days after the card is issued to use their benefit.
If households have questions about their 2026 SUN Bucks cards, they should call the SUN Bucks Contact Center at 833-543-3230 (TTY: 800-833-6348) 8 am–5 pm Monday–Friday (except holidays).
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Private schools and Residential Childcare Institutions (RCCIs) participating in USDA Child Nutrition Programs are required to complete and submit a Child Nutrition Financial Report (CNFR) annually by December 31.
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Reminders:
- Report only food service-related revenue and expenses.
- Reimbursements for meals served are federal funds and must be reported under federal revenue, not state revenue.
- Common revenue sources:
- Student and adult meal sales.
- Note, if operating a pricing program under the Special Milk Program, revenues must be reported.
- Catering, special events, and general fund support.
- Common expenses:
- Food, supplies, salaries, and benefits.
- Utilities, maintenance, contracted services, and indirect costs.
- If expenses exceed revenue, identify the additional funding source under “Other Program Revenue.”
- Nonprofit food service account balances should not exceed three months average expenditures.
Resources
Questions? Contact cnsfiscalservices@k12.wa.us.
Appeal procedures give USDA Child Nutrition Program sponsors an avenue to appeal when OSPI takes adverse administrative action as required by federal regulations.
These procedures specify what actions can be appealed and to what programs they apply. Appeal procedures are included in final letters summarizing Administrative Review findings and are available on OSPI's webpages.
Questions? Contact a School Meal Program Specialist.
Claims must be submitted by the 15th of the following month to receive reimbursement at the end of each month. If a claim cannot be submitted by the 15th, it may be submitted within 60 days of the original due date. The Claim Due Dates Reference Sheet 2026-27 identifies all claim deadlines for the school year.
WINS closes for claims submission at 2 pm PT on the 15th of each month. Claims must be in "OK to Pay" status by that time to be processed for payment.
It is best practice to submit claims early in case errors need correcting or assistance is needed. Fiscal and program staff are available until 2 pm on 15th or the last business day before the 15th.
Monthly claim data must be in “OK to Pay” status by 2 pm PT on the 15th of the month.
- WINS will automatically log out all users on the 15th of each month at 2 pm PT.
- Allow enough time to enter all claiming data, preview, and correct errors. This helps ensure the claim is in “OK to Pay” status.
- The system may be slower during periods of heavy use.
Claims not submitted by the 15th of the month can be submitted by the 60-day deadline.
There are multiple edit checks in the claim for reimbursement. Edit checks identify claim errors. Errors must be resolved to receive reimbursement.
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Pro-Tip: Always select the “Preview Errors” tab at the bottom of each site claim once information is entered. Claims that are incomplete or in error status are held and will not be paid until completed/corrected. Refer to the Claims Status Guide for help with resolving errors.
The Claims, Fiscal Information and Resources webpage contains useful information, including reimbursement rates and claim due dates.
Questions? Contact an OSPI CNS School Meals Program Specialist or CNSFiscalServices@k12.wa.us.
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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.
OSPI discusses annual program requirements, new policy guidance, important reminders, Summer-EBT uploads, and provides an opportunity to ask questions.
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Next Webinar: November 5
Time: 2–3 pm
Please note: Register once to receive updates and reminders for each webinar.
Food Service Management Company Contract Training
Sponsors that contract with an FSMC must attend this webinar to review FSMC contracting requirements.
Date: December 2
Time: 2–3 pm
Additional Training Opportunities
Self-paced, on-demand trainings on program requirements, such as meal pattern, Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), and Meals for Washington Students (HB 1238), Verification, and Meal Counting and Claiming are available on the School Meal Programs Canvas Course. Please note, a Canvas account is required to access these trainings
Professional Standards Resources
USDA Team Nutrition revised three professional standards resources to support school nutrition professionals:
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