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.

2025

April

C.A.R.E.: Week of April 14

• Action Item: Summer Program Requirements and Outreach
• Action Item: Apply for FFVP by April 30!
• Update: Income Eligibility Guidelines (July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026) Now Available!
• Update: Summer EBT Portal Opens May 1!
• Update: Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) Login Information
• Reminder: Join the School Meal Programs Monthly Webinars
• Important Dates to Remember

CNS Special Update: April 11

• Update: SY 2025–26 CEP Eligibility Report — Now Available!

CNS Special Update: April 3

• Update: Clarification on CEP Requirements for 2025–26

March

S.S.T.A.R.: Week of March 24

• Update: Chef Ann's 2025 Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship Awardee
• Reminder: Grant Opportunities!
• Sponsor Spotlight: National School Breakfast Week Celebrations
• March Madness takes over Westwood Middle School
• Farm to School Corner
• Important Dates to Remember

CNS Special Update: March 24

• Update: Local Food for Schools and Local Food for Childcare

C.A.R.E.: Week of March 10

• Action Item: Prepare for Summer EBT 2025!
• Action Item: Breakfast After the Bell (BAB) Plan & Webinar
• Update: 2024–25 Washington Public School Data for Area Eligibility Report
• Update: SP 09-2025: Buy American Accommodation Process for School Year 2025–26
• Update: Seated Lunchtime Rulemaking
• Update: Correction to CACFP At-Risk Review form
• Empower Your Team: Mastering the USDA School Meal Program Final Rule
• Procurement Corner: Using DES Statewide Contracts
• FDP Corner: New Coho Salmon Subsidy & Ordering Update for SY 24–25
• Important Dates to Remember

February

S.S.T.A.R.: Week of February 24

C.A.R.E.: Week of February 10

January

S.S.T.A.R.: Week of January 27

C.A.R.E.: Week of January 13

2024

December

Week of December 9

November

• Week of November 25 
• November 13 Special Update - New Claim Deadline
• Week of November 12

October

• Week of October 28
• Week of October 14

September

• Week of September 24
• Week of September 16 - CNS Special Update: Meal Applications for Households with Temporary Financial Hardships
• Week of September 9

August

• Week of August 18

July

• Week of July 8

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