Child Nutrition Newsletters

School Meals and Food Distribution Program Updates

Program information and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) policies are sent to program sponsors throughout the year in the form of email updates and OSPI bulletins. There are two ways to be signed up to receive updates from CNS.

There are two ways to be signed up to receive updates from CNS.

1. Mandatory List: USDA requires CNS to share mandatory information to program sponsors. If you are listed as the program contact in the WINS Application you will receive weekly updates.
2. Self-Subscribe List: You can manage the updates you receive by editing your subscription preferences. Additionally, you can receive updates for any program, even though you may not be listed in the WINS sponsor application.

2023

May

• Week of May 22
  • Action Item: Summer 2023 P-EBT—Get Ready to Upload!
  • Action Item: Hosting Summer School? Submit your SFSP/SSO Application!
  • Action Item: Mandatory Summer Meals Outreach
  • Update: Join Us June 1 for the School Meals Monthly Webinar!
  • Update: SY 2023–24 Application Materials for Families Now Available
  • Update: Sodium Target 1a Effective July 1, 2023!
  • Update: Healthy Meals Incentives Grants for Small and/or Rural SFAs Closes May 26!
  • Reminder: Join Us for BAB Office Hours This Wednesday!
  • Highlight: School Lunch Hero Celebrations
  • FDP Corner: Mark Your Calendar! First Order Period for SY 22–23 Opens in July
  • FDP Corner: Carryover Request Form Opens June 1
  • Important Dates to Remember

• Week of May 8
  • Thank You to Our School Lunch Heroes!
  • Action Item: Take the Local Food for Schools Pre-Order Survey by May 10!
  • Action Item: FFVP Application Closing Soon—Apply by May 15
  • Action Item: Summer Program Requirements and Outreach
  • Update: Join Us for SCA Office Hours on May 10
  • Update: Join Us for the CEP Webinar on May 18
  • Update: Save the Date for SY 2023–24 School Meal Programs Annual Training
  • Update: Report 1800 Now Posted for SY 2021–22!
  • Reminder: Join Us for BAB Office Hours!
  • Farm to School Corner: Harvest of the Month
  • Farm to School Corner: Join the Farm to School Network Gathering and Build Connections!
  • Important Dates to Remember

April

• Week of April 24
  • Action Item: Take the Local Food for Schools Pre-Order Survey
  • Action Item: Join the May Monthly Webinar for Summer 2023 P-EBT Information!
  • Update: SY 2023–24 CEP Eligibility Report Reposted!
  • Update: Paid Lunch Equity Guidance and Tool for SY 2023–24
  • Update: FFVP Application Deadline Extended to May 15
  • Update: Join Us for BAB Office Hours!
  • Update: New USDA Policy Memorandums
  • Reminder: CACFP Renewal Closing Date for FY 2023 is June 30
  • Reminder: OSPI CNS Appeal Procedures
  • FYI: 2023 Team Nutrition Grant Supporting Nutrition Education Now Open!
  • FYI: Learn More about the FoodCorps
  • Important Dates to Remember

• Week of April 10
  • Action Item: March Claims Due April 15
  • Update: Supply Chain Assistance Office Hours
  • Update: Extended – Comment Period for USDA Child Nutrition Programs Proposed Rule
  • Update: Healthy Meals Incentives Grants for Small and/or Rural SFAs – Opens Today!
  • Update: Summer 2023 SFSP/SSO Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas
  • Update: BAB Webinar is Next Week - April 19!
  • Update: Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) Application Now Open!
  • Reminder: Join Us April 13 from 3–4 pm for the School Meals Monthly Webinar!
  • Farm to School Corner: Harvest of the Month - Asparagus
  • Highlight: Two Washington Districts Featured in USDA Team Nutrition's School Meal Trays, Many Ways
  • Important Dates to Remember

March

• Week of March 27
  • Update: NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant Application Closes Today!
  • Update: Healthy Meals Incentives Grant Application Webinar on March 29
  • Update: New USDA Proposed Rule: Community Eligibility Provision - Increasing Options for Schools
  • Update: Summer 2023 P-EBT - Coming Soon!
  • Update: Join Us April 13 from 3-4 pm for the School Meals Monthly Webinar!
  • Update: Share Information About the Affordable Connectivity Program
  • Update: USDA Policy Memo on Title I Guidance for Within-District Allocations
  • Reminder: Register for the BAB Webinar on April 19
  • Reminder: Comment on the USDA Proposed Rule for Child Nutrition Programs
  • Highlight: Ellensburg School District Celebrates NSBW
  • Important Dates to Remember

• Week of March 13
  • Action Item: BAB Requirements & Implementation Plans
  • Update: Summer Program Requirements for Public Schools
  • Update: New USDA Guidance on End of Public Health Emergency
  • Update: WA State Farm to School (F2S) Network Gathering - June 9th - Feedback Needed
  • Update: 2023-24 Income Eligibility Guidelines - Now Available!
  • Update: Comment on the USDA Proposed Rule for Child Nutrition Programs
  • Update: NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant Applications Close This Month!
  • Reminder: White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health - What's Next?
  • Farm to School Corner: Harvest of the Month
  • FYI: Send Us Your NSBW Celebrations!
  • Important Dates to Remember

February

• Week of February 27
• Week of February 13

January

• Week of January 23
• Week of January 9

2022

December

• No newsletter for week of December 26
• Week of December 19
• Week of December 12
• Week of December 5

November

• Week of November 28
• No newsletter for week of November 21
• Week of November 14
• Week of November 7

October

• Week of October 31
• Week of October 24
• Week of October 17
• Week of October 10
• Week of October 3

September

• Week of September 26
• Week of September 19
• Week of September 12
• Week of September 5

August

• Week of August 29
• Week of August 22
• Week of August 15
• Week of August 8

July

• Week of July 25
• Week of July 18
• Week of July 11
• Week of July 4

June

• Week of June 27
• Week of June 20
• Week of June 13
• Week of June 6

May

• Week of May 30
• Week of May 23
• Week of May 16
• Week of May 2

April

• Week of April 25
• Week of April 18
• Week of April 11
• Week of April 4

March

• Week of March 28
• Week of March 21 
• Week of March 14
• Week of March 7

February

• Week of February 28
• Week of February 21
• Week of February 14
• Week of February 7

January

• Week of January 31
• Week of January 24
• Week of January 17
• Week of January 10

2021

December

• Week of December 20
• Week of December 13
• Week of December 6

November

• Week of November 22
• Week of November 15
• Week of November 8
• Week of November 1

October

• Week of October 25
• Week of October 18
• Week of October 11
• Week of October 4

September

• Week of September 27
• Week of September 20
• Week of September 13
• Week of September 7

August

• Week of August 30
• Week of August 23
• Week of August 16
• Week of August 9
• Week of August 2

July

• Week of July 26
• Week of July 19
• Week of July 12
• Week of July 5

June

• Week of June 28
• Week of June 21
• Week of June 14
• Week of June 7

May

• Week of May 31
• Week of May 24
• Week of May 17
• Week of May 10
• Week of May 3

April

• Renewal Bulletins Released
• Week of April 26
• Week of April 19
• Week of April 12
• Week of April 5

March

• Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)
• Week of March 22
• Week of March 15 
• Week of March 8
• Week of March 1

February

• Week of February 22
• Week of February 15
• Week of February 8
• Week of February 1

January

• Week of January 25
• Week of January 18
• Week of January 11
• Week of January 4

2020

December

• Week of December 28
• Week of December 21
• Week of December 14
• Week of December 7

November

• Week of November 30
• Week of November 23
• Week of November 16
• Week of November 9
• Week of November 2
• Legislative Update: Federal Continuing Resolution Signed

October

• Week of October 26
• Week of October 19
• Week of October 12
• Week of October 5
• USDA Extends Summer Programs