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.

2024

December

Week of December 9

• Action Item: Financial Report Due December 31
• Update: Breakfast Meals for Kids Grant Opens December 2024!
• Reminder: Plant Based Meals Grant Application Closes December 19!
• Reminder: Join the School Meal Programs Monthly Webinar on January 9!
• Reminder: 20-Minute Seated Lunchtime — Public Comment Period and Hearing Date
• FYI: Updated! Team Nutrition's "Offering Meats and Meat Alternatives at School Breakfast" Training Guide
• Farm to School Corner
• FDP Corner: January Order Period
• FDP Corner: Inclement Weather and Emergency Closures During School Year 2024–25
• Important Dates to Remember

November

• Week of November 25 
  • Update: 20-Minute Seated Lunchtime — Public Comment Period and Hearing Date
  • Update: New United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Policy Memos
  • Update: Verification Summary Report in WINS is Now Open
  • Update: OSPI CNS Appeal Procedures
  • Reminder: Plant-Based School Meals Grant Now Open!
  • FYI: Smart Snacks Training Open in Canvas
  • Highlight: Port Angeles School District and Highline Public Schools Win Healthy Meals Incentive Recognition Awards!
  • Farm to School Corner
  • FDP Corner: January Order Period
  • FDP Corner: Inclement Weather and Emergency Closures During SY 24–25
  • Important Dates to Remember
• November 13 Special Update - New Claim Deadline
  • Update: New Claim Deadline Beginning November 15, 2024
  • Update: Correction to Plant-Based Meals Grant — Application Opens November 14!
  • Important Dates to Remember
• Week of November 12
  • Action Item: File October Claims by 2pm on November 15!
  • Action Item: Register to Attend the USDA Foods Show!
  • Update: New Meal Pattern Policy Memo - Substituting Vegetables for Grains
  • Update: Unannounced Site Visits
  • Update: Plant Based School Meals Grant Now Open!
  • Update: USDA Webinar — Kosher & Halal Foods in Child Nutrition Programs
  • Reminder: Basics of Operating the School Meal Programs in Renton on December 4!
  • FYI: SCALES Grant Application Now Open
  • Farm to School Corner
  • FDP Corner: December Orders Close Wednesday, November 13
  • FDP Corner: Inclement Weather and Emergency Closures During SY 24–25
  • Important Dates to Remember

October

• Week of October 28
  • Update: New Meal Pattern Policy Memos
  • Update: Notify OSPI of Milk Shortages
  • Update: Basics of Operating the School Meal Programs in Renton on December 4!
  • Reminder: Join the School Meals Monthly Webinar on November 7!
  • Highlight: Taste Washington Day Celebrations!
  • FYI: New School Meals Training Series from Team Nutrition
  • Farm to School Corner
  • FDP Corner
  • Local Food for Schools (LFS) Update
  • Important Dates to Remember
• Week of October 14
  • Action Item: Sign Up for the School Meals Advisory Council by October 18!
  • Action Item: SY 2024-25 School Meal Programs Annual Requirements
  • Update: October 14-18, 2024 is National School Lunch Week!
  • Reminder: New Claim Deadline Beginning November 2024
  • Reminder: Join the School Meals Monthly Webinar on November 7!
  • Highlight: Seattle Public Schools Wins Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Award!
  • FYI: New School Meal Program Resources!
  • FYI: OSPI Awarded FY 24 Team Nutrition Grant
  • Farm to School Corner
  • FDP Corner
  • Local Food for Schools (LFS) Update
  • Important Dates to Remember

September

• Week of September 24
  • Update: Help Shape School Meal Programs in Washington
  • Reminder: Meal Applications for Households with Temporary Financial Hardships
  • Reminder: Join the School Meals Monthly Webinar on October 3!
  • Reminder: Complete the Annual Training Feedback Survey!
  • Reminder: 2nd Chance Basics of Operating the School Meal Programs in Spokane on October 1!
  • FYI: Register for ICN Instructor-Led Trainings
  • Highlight: East Valley (Yakima) School District Wins Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Award!
  • Farm to School Corner
  • Important Dates to Remember
• Week of September 16 - CNS Special Update: Meal Applications for Households with Temporary Financial Hardships
• Week of September 9
  • Update: Updates to Sponsor Permanent Agreement — What You Need to Know
  • Update: New Claim Deadline Beginning November 2024
  • Reminder: Administrative and Procurement Reviews in SY 2024–25
  • FYI: USDA's Team Nutrition Webinar - Reducing Added Sugars in School Meals
  • FYI: Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards
  • FYI: Calling All Food Service Directors: The USDA Wants to Hear From You!
  • FYI: The Revised Crediting in the Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet Series in English!
  • Farm to School Corner
  • FDP Corner
  • Important Dates to Remember

August

• Week of August 18
  • Action Item: Complete SY 2024–25 Renewal Applications
  • Update: Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit Application —Translations Now Available!
  • Update: 2024–25 School Meals Monthly Webinar Series Starts September 5! Register Now!
  • Update: Direct Certification System for 2024–25 Now Open!
  • Update: Reminders for Sponsors Contracting with FSMCs and/or Vendors
  • Reminder: Complete HB 1238 —Meals for Washington Students Required Training
  • Reminder: SY 2024–25 Reimbursement Rates and USDA Foods Commodity Rates
  • Reminder: Keep Using the 2019 And Justice for All Posters
  • Highlight: Washougal School District and Selah School District Win Healthy Meals Incentive Recognition Awards!
  • FYI: Paid Lunch Equity Tool Walk-Through Recorded Webinar
  • FYI: Applications Now Open for Get Schools Cooking!
  • FYI: Team Nutrition Resources for 2024–25
  • Farm to School Corner
  • FDP Corner
  • Important Dates to Remember

July

• Week of July 8
  • Action Item: Register for Annual Training by July 22!
  • Update: Summer EBT or SUN Bucks
  • Update: SY 2024–25 Renewal Applications Now Open
  • Update: FFVP Funding and Annual Training
  • Reminder: Power Up Your Program with New Learning Opportunities for 2024–2025!
  • FYI: WSNA Summer Conference Registration Still Open!
  • FYI: USDA Webinar Recording and Slide Deck on Meal Pattern Final Rule Now Available
  • Highlight: Colville SD and West Valley Yakima Win Healthy Meals Incentive Recognition Awards!
  • Farm to School Corner
  • FDP Corner: USDA Foods Commodity Rates
  • Important Dates to Remember

June

• Week of June 17 - CNS Special Update: Supply Chain Assistance Funds
• Week of June 10

May

• Week of May 28
• Week of May 17 - CNS Special Update
• Week of May 13

April

• Week of April 22
• Week of April 15 - CEP Resources Available
• Week of April 8

March 

• Week of March 25
• Week of March 11

February

• Week of February 26 - CNS Special Update: Farm to School
• Week of February 26 - CNS Special Update: Area Eligibility Report
• Week of February 21 - CNS Special Update: USDA Shelf Stable Milk
• Week of February 12

January

• Week of January 8

2023

December

• Week of December 11

November

• Week of November 14

October

• Week of October 30
  
  
• Special Update: Flexibilities During Milk Shortages

September

• Week of September 25

August

• Week of August 28
• Week of August 14

July

• Week of July 24
• Week of July 10

June

• Week of June 26
• Week of June 12

May

• SY 2023–24 School Meal Programs Annual Training Registration Now Available! 
• Week of May 22
• Week of May 8

April

• Week of April 24
• Special CNS Update: CEP Eligibility Report
• Week of April 10

March

• Week of March 27
• Week of March 13

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