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.
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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.
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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
December
C.A.R.E.: Week of December 1
- Update: Financial Reports Due This Month!
- Update: CNS Appeal Procedures
- Reminder: Virtual Final Rule Best Practice Sharing Sessions
- Reminder: School Meal Programs Monthly Webinars and Other Training Opportunities
- Resource Roundup: New Offer vs Serve Training Videos!
- Important Dates to Remember
November
S.S.T.A.R.: Week of November 17
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Sponsor Spotlight: National School Lunch Week Celebrations
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Sponsor Spotlight: Taste Washington Day Celebrations
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Update: Participate in Plastic Free Lunch Day
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Farm to School Corner
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Reminder: USDA Farm to School Grant Application Open
Important Dates to Remember
C.A.R.E.: Week of November 3
- Update: Government Shutdown
- Update: Verification Summary Report in WINS Opens November 15
- Update: October Building Data
- Update: CNS Accounting Codes
- Update: General Claiming Reminders
- Reminder: Virtual Final Rule Best Practice Sharing Sessions
- Reminder: School Meal Programs Monthly Webinars and Other Training Opportunities
- Important Dates to Remember
October
S.S.T.A.R.: Week of October 20
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Update: Rooted in Excellence Awards — Application Open!
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Update: Team Nutrition Resource Round Up
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Update: Attend the WSNA Virtual Fall Workshop
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Update: OSPI Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools Grant Application 2025–2027 — Now Open!
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Update: USDA Farm to School Grant Application Open
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Reminder: Breakfast Meals for Kids Grant Application Closes October 31!
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Farm to School Corner
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Sponsor Spotlight: Northshore School District — Strengthening Partnerships to Promote Nutrition Throughout the School Day
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Sponsor Spotlight: Taste Washington Day Celebrations
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Important Dates to Remember
C.A.R.E: Week of October 6
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Action Item: School Year 2025–26 School Meal Programs Annual Requirements
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Update: Virtual Final Rule Best Practice Sharing Sessions
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Update: Food Service Management Companies (FSMC) Requirement
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Update: Child Nutrition Financial Report (CNFR) Requirements
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Update: Corn Dog Products Recalled
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Update: Save the Date — 2026 USDA Foods Show
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Reminder: August and September Claims
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Reminder: School Meal Programs Monthly Webinars and Other Training Opportunities
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Important Dates to Remember
September
S.S.T.A.R.: Week of September 22
- Update: Breakfast Meals for Kids Grant Application Now Open!
- Sponsor Spotlight: Highline School District
- Last Chance: Register Now to Power Up Your Program This Year!
- Update: Celebrate National School Lunch Week October 13–17!
- Update: Rooted in Excellence Awards — New School Nutrition Awards Launching Soon!
- Farm to School Corner
- FYI: Strengthening Healthy Choices in Schools: New Resources from Team Nutrition
- Important Dates to Remember
C.A.R.E.: Week of September 8
- Action Item: Submit Your 2025–26 Renewal Application by September 15
- Update: Adult Meal Pricing Tool for SY 25–26
- Update: Final Rule Canvas Module Open!
- Reminder: Monthly Webinars and Other Training Opportunities
- Important Dates to Remember
S.S.T.A.R: Week of September 3
- Sponsor Spotlight: Powering Up Student, Family and Community Engagement
- Farm to School Corner
- Important Dates to Remember
August
CNS Special Update: August 29
- Special Update: Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit Application Bulletin
C.A.R.E.: Week of August 18
- Action Item: Complete the Lunch Duration Survey
- Update: Renewal Application Deadline Extended to September 15
- Update: Updated Meal Pattern Requirements for 2025–26
- Update: State Breakfast Assistance Rate for 2025–26
- Update: Reminder for Sponsors Contracting with FSMCs and/or Vendors
- Update: USDA Policy Guidance — Electronic Processing Fee
- Reminder: Monthly Webinars and Other Training Opportunities
- FDP Corner: USDA Foods Commodity Rates
- Important Dates to Remember
July
S.S.T.A.R.: Week of July 28
- Sponsor Spotlight: Selah School District
- Update: Mealtime Memo— Cooking with Herbs and Spices
- Farm to School Corner
- Important Dates to Remember
C.A.R.E.: Week of July 14
- Action Item: Submit the School Year (SY) 2025–26 School Meal Programs Renewal Application
- Update: OSPI Updates for 2025–26 — Register Now!
- Update: USDA Policy Guidance
- Update: Direct Certification System for 2025–26 Now Open!
- Update: FFVP Funding and Annual Training
- Reminder: Register for SY 2025–26 School Meal Programs Annual Training by July 18!
- Important Dates to Remember
June
CNS Special Update: June 27
- Update: Updated SY 2025–26 School Meal Programs Annual Training Schedule
S.S.T.A.R.: Week of June 23
- Sponsor Spotlight: Okanogan and Highline School Districts Power Up Hands-On Nutrition Education with Student-Designed Meals and Menus
- Update: June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month!
- Update: Four Ways to Learn More About Power Up Your Program!
- Farm to School Corner
- Important Dates to Remember
CNS Special Update: June 16
- Notice: USDA Summer Meal Site Finder Experiencing Technical Issues for Washington State
- Update: New Summer Meal Program & Farm to Summer Toolkit Now Available!
C.A.R.E.: Week of June 9
- Thank You for A Great School Year!
- Action Item: Submit CEP Applications by June 30
- Action Item: Mandatory Summer Meals Outreach
- Update: USDA Policy Guidance
- Update: Free and Reduced-Price Breakfast Assistance Funds
- Update: Administrative and Procurement Reviews in SY 2025–26
- Reminder: Register for SY 2025–26 School Meal Programs Annual Training!
- Important Dates to Remember
CNS Special Update: June 5
- Update: Paid Lunch Equity Guidance for School Year 2025–26
May
S.S.T.A.R.: Week of May 27
C.A.R.E.: Week of May 12
CNS Special Update: May 8
- Action Item: Public Schools — Submit March and April Claims by May 15!
CNS Special Update: May 5
- Upcoming Webinar: Rural Non-Congregate Summer Meals - Flexibilities & Best Practices
- Update: New Way to Find Meals - UWKC's Summer Text Line is Live!
April
S.S.T.A.R.: Week of April 28
C.A.R.E.: Week of April 14
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
CNS Special Update: March 24
- Update: Local Food for Schools and Local Food for Childcare
C.A.R.E.: Week of March 10
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
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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.
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