Food and Nutrition Services Program Overview
If you need school meal program information in another language, please call 360-268-9125 ext. 1008
Si necesita información sobre el programa de comidas escolares en otro idioma, llame al 360-268-9125 ext. 1008
The Ocosta School District participates in the National Food Programs, serving free breakfast and lunch to all students under CEP. The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas. CEP allows the nation's highest poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications.
The district does not disclose free and reduced eligibility status, unless the requester of such information is to a person directly connected with the administration or enforcement of this chapter or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966; a person directly connected with the administration or enforcement of—a Federal education program; a State health or education program administered by the State or local educational agency; or a Federal, State, or local means-tested nutrition program with eligibility standards comparable to the school lunch program; the Comptroller General of the United States for audit and examination authorized by any other provision of law; and a Federal, State, or local law enforcement official for the purpose of investigating an alleged violation of any program covered by this or a person directly connected with the administration of the State Medicaid program identifying children eligible for benefits, and enrolling children in, those programs, and verifying the eligibility of children for programs under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.
(*Those students that wish to buy an additional milk or a milk to accompany their home-brought lunch will need to purchase a milk for $0.30.)
Ocosta's Local School Wellness Policy (LSWP)
Sponsors participating in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program are required to develop a local school wellness policy that promotes the health of students and addresses the problem of childhood obesity. Wellness policies are tailored to the unique needs of each sponsor and present an opportunity to improve the health of each community.
A revised version of the Wellness Policy was adopted by the Board of Directors on September 27, 2022, to comply with the final rule issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The new policy, developed by a district-wide wellness committee, emphasizes access to nutritious foods, health and physical education, and opportunities for physical activity. The Wellness Policy can be found within Procedure 6700P (link provided below).
Parents and community members are invited to join the wellness committee and/or offer input. If you are interested in joining the committee and learning about the regulations that govern school nutrition programs, please contact Food & Nutrition Services at 360-268-9125 ext. 1008.
For further information regarding the district's nutrition, health, and physical education policy/procedure, please follow the links below:
Current Policy: Ocosta School District Policy 6700 Nutrition, Health, and Physical Education
Current Procedure: Ocosta School District Procedure 6700P Nutrition, Health, and Physical Education
Triennial Assessment of the LSWP
According to the USDA Final Rule, Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) must conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Local School Wellness Policy (LSWP) a minimum of once every three years. The Triennial Assessment requires LEAs to assess compliance with their LSWP and to make this assessment available to the public. The Triennial Assessment is comprised of four components:
1. Comparison to a model LSWP
2. Extent of compliance for all schools with the District LSWP
3. Progress made in attaining the goals of the wellness policy
4. Triennial Assessment report to the public
Triennial Assessment of Ocosta's Local School Wellness Policy (June 2022)
Special Dietary Accommodation Information and Forms
If your student is participating in our meal programs and would like to request a special dietary accommodation, please fill out a Request for Special Dietary Accommodations form (see below). If you have submitted a special dietary accommodation request in the past, please contact Ocosta's Nutrition Services at 360-268-9125 ext. 1008.
A Request for Special Dietary Accommodations form must be completed in its entirety and signed by your student's physician (or a licensed health care professional authorized to write medical prescriptions in Washington State). Please download the form by clicking the link below. The completed form must be turned in and reviewed with the family and the district's Nutrition Services Director before adjustments can be made to the published menu to meet a special dietary need. Please email the completed form to sschmeling@ocosta.org or fax it to 360-268-2540.
Request for Special Dietary Accommodations Form (English)
Formulario de Solicitud de Ajustes Dietéticas Especiales (Español)
For more information regarding special dietary accommodations, please review the following reference guides for parents:
Parent Information for Special Dietary Accommodations - English
Información para Padres Sobre Ajustes Dietéticas Especiales - Español
Family Income Survey
Schools receive certain federal and state funding (Learning Assistance Program, teacher incentives, etc.) based on the number of children from households that are at or below the federal poverty level. This Family Income Survey provides your child’s school a way to collect household income information. This information makes sure your child’s school receives the full amount of federal and state funding and makes sure your child receives services they are entitled to when free/reduced price applications are not collected.
It is important that you complete this survey each year for your student(s). Please complete and return the following form to Ocosta School District by September 14, 2024 or at the time your student enrolls in school at Ocosta*:
Family Income Survey - English
Encuesta de Ingresos Familiares - Español
(Income Eligibility Guidelines)
*Family income surveys can be turned in to the district at any time during the school year.
**Household members do not have to be U.S. citizens for children to qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Completing the form has no impact on immigration status.
USDA School Meal Program Equality & Complaint Process
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling 866-632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights,1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or fax: 833-256-1665 or 202-690-7442; or email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal-opportunity provider.
If you believe your student has experienced discrimination through any USDA program or activity, please complete the following form and submit it to the USDA address listed on the form:
CNS Discrimination Complaint Form (English)
Formulario de Quejas por Discriminación de CNS (Español)
(All civil rights complaints related to the USDA Child Nutrition Programs must be forwarded to the USDA or to OSPI for forwarding to the USDA.)
Complaints must be filed within 180 days from the date you knew, or should have known, of the alleged discrimination unless the time for filing is extended by USDA.