Summer Food Service Program / SUN Meals · Washington
Washington SFSP and SUN Meals — State Agency, Sponsor Requirements, and Summer Meal Rules
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), branded federally as SUN Meals, provides free meals to children age 18 and under when school is out for the summer. In Washington, SFSP is administered by Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Child Nutrition Services. Below is the state agency contact, how to apply as a sponsor or site, and the federal meal pattern rules that apply at every Washington summer meal site.
Washington SFSP State Agency
- Agency
- Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Division
- Child Nutrition Services
- Phone
- (360) 725-6200
- FNS Region
- Western Regional Office — USDA FNS Western
Who Can Sponsor SFSP in Washington
The following organizations may apply to OSPI to become an SFSP sponsor in Washington:
- Public or private nonprofit school food authorities running summer meals at Washington school sites.
- Units of local, municipal, county, or tribal government including parks, recreation departments, and libraries.
- Private nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community-based groups, meeting SFSP financial and administrative standards.
- Residential and non-residential summer camps serving children from areas with at least 50% free and reduced-price eligibility.
- Public or private nonprofit universities and colleges running upward bound or similar programs.
Site Eligibility for Washington Summer Meal Sites
Most SFSP sites in Washington qualify as open sites in areas where at least 50% of children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. Washington sponsors can also operate:
- Closed enrolled sites serving a defined group of enrolled children when at least half of them would qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
- Migrant sites primarily serving children of migrant workers.
- Camp sites that claim only the children from eligible households attending.
- Non-congregate rural sites allowed under permanent USDA rule for Washington communities that meet the rural non-congregate designation under 7 CFR 225.6.
How to Apply as a Washington SFSP Sponsor
- Contact OSPI early — most states, including Washington, begin sponsor outreach and training in late winter for the following summer.
- Complete the required sponsor training offered by OSPI. SFSP sponsor training covers meal patterns, recordkeeping, civil rights, and financial management.
- Submit the sponsor application, management plan, and budget to OSPI through the state agency's portal.
- Identify Washington site locations and document their eligibility (open, closed enrolled, camp, migrant, or rural non-congregate).
- Receive state agency approval and enter into a Permanent Agreement. Begin serving meals once the agreement and site approvals are in place.
SFSP Meal Pattern for Washington Summer Meal Sites
Unlike CACFP, SFSP uses a single meal pattern for all children ages 1 through 18 (7 CFR 225.16). Sites in Washington must include the following components per meal:
| Meal | Required components |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | 1 cup milk · 1/2 cup vegetable, fruit, or full-strength juice · 1 serving of grains or bread · optional meat/meat alternate |
| Lunch or Supper | 1 cup milk · 2 oz meat/meat alternate · 3/4 cup combined vegetables and fruits from two or more sources · 1 serving of grains or bread |
| Snack (2 of 4) | Choose 2 of: 1 cup milk, 1 oz meat/meat alternate, 3/4 cup vegetable/fruit/juice, 1 serving grains or bread |
Source: 7 CFR 225.16 and USDA FNS SFSP meal pattern chart. Sponsors in Washington may also serve meals that meet the NSLP or CACFP patterns at their option.
Need year-round meals in Washington?
SFSP only runs while school is out. For year-round child care, Head Start, afterschool, and adult day care meals in Washington, see the Washington CACFP state page.
Plan audit-ready SFSP menus for your Washington summer sites
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