Dear School Leaders,
As the new school year approaches, please complete the following items to ensure your school meal programs start smoothly and remain compliant.
1. CNMS Renewal: Final Deadline November 30, 2026
The 2026–2027 Annual Renewal is required for all School Food Authorities in child nutrition programs. It renews your agreement with NYSED and keeps your program information current.
Please complete the renewal before the school year starts. The final deadline is November 30, 2026; no renewals will be accepted after that date.
For step-by-step guidance, please refer to the Annual Renewal Instructions
Click here for more details on submitting the Annual Renewal.
2. School Food Safety Inspections and Online Reporting
Health Inspection Reports must be submitted in CNMS by October 15, using inspection data from the previous school year.
Schools participating in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs must:
- Obtain at least two food safety inspections each school year.
- Contact their local Department of Health each school year in writing to request at least two food safety inspections and retain a copy of the request for their records.
- Report the number of schools that received zero, one, two, or three or more inspections. The report must be submitted even if no inspections were conducted.
- Post the most recent inspection report in a publicly visible location and provide a copy upon request.
- Maintain inspection reports and documentation and promptly address any required corrective actions.
Health Inspection Report Online Instructions
School Food Safety Inspections Guidance
3. 2026–2027 School Calendar Must Be Submitted to NYSED
Each school location must submit its own calendar by email to its assigned Child Nutrition representative.
Submission Requirements:
- Include the SFA/RA name, LEA Code, first and last day of school, vacations, field trips, and any days when meals will not be served.
- Maintain documentation for field trips and non-meal service days and make it available to NYSED upon request.
- Notify NYSED of any calendar changes at least 24 hours in advance by email.
- For emergency closures, such as snow days, notify NYSED as soon as possible.
- Maintain documentation of all calendar changes and provide it upon request.
For additional information and submission guidance, click here.
4. Prepare a Public Announcement for Local News Media
Schools must prepare and distribute their Public Announcement to news media each school year and document its distribution.
- Use the appropriate Public Announcement for your school’s program. Different versions apply to schools operating under Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and Provision 2 (P2).
- Save a copy of the announcement, along with documentation of the date and where it was sent, and maintain these records for review upon request.
For the appropriate eligibility materials and Public Announcement resources, visit the NYSED Eligibility page.
5. September 30, 2026: Due Date for Analysis of Cash Resources for Non-Public School Food Authorities
This annual report is used by NYSED to determine whether funds in the nonprofit food service account are within the federal limit of three months of average operating expenses. SFAs must report their food service revenues, expenditures, cash, and other available resources.
View NYSED instructions and reporting guidance
NYSED recently issued guidance on Net Cash Resources, Excess Fund Balance Limits, and Annual Financial Reporting. School Food Authorities must keep net cash resources at or below three months of average operating expenditures.
SFAs exceeding this limit must develop a spend-down plan. Balances of six months or more require the plan to be submitted to NYSED; balances between three and six months require that the plan be kept on file.
View NYSED’s Net Cash Resources and Annual Financial Reporting guidance
6. Changes for the 2026–2027 Academic Year
Child Nutrition has published the following updates and changes to the child nutrition meal programs:
- Vegetables at Breakfast: Schools may offer any vegetable in place of fruit at breakfast without having to meet the weekly vegetable subgroup requirements. This flexibility is optional; schools are not required to change their menus.
- Paid Lunch Equity (PLE): For 2026–2027, only SFAs that had a negative nonprofit school food service account balance as of June 30, 2025, are required to comply with PLE pricing requirements. SFAs with a zero or positive balance are exempt.
For complete details, review the 2026 Appropriations Act: Effect on Child Nutrition Programs.
7. 2026–2027 Reimbursement Rates
Child Nutrition has released the 2026–2027 School Year Reimbursement Rates. Schools should review the updated rates for the federal and State reimbursement amounts applicable to school meals.
Click here to view the 2026–2027 reimbursement rates.
8. Upcoming Child Nutrition Trainings
NYSED Child Nutrition is offering training opportunities throughout the 2026–2027 school year to support school nutrition professionals and help meet annual Professional Standards training requirements.
Upcoming September webinars include:
- September 17: Administrative Review Process
- September 24: Meal Pattern Refresher
Additional trainings will be offered throughout the school year.
View the full training schedule and registration information:
https://www.cn.nysed.gov/content/cn-training-opportunities-26-27-sy