SMS Child Nutrition Updates | Important Deadlines & Upcoming Opportunities
Dear School Food Service Directors and Administrators,
Stay informed and prepared with these essential reminders, deadlines, and updates from NYSED Child Nutrition for the 2026–2027 school year.
- 2026–2027 Provision 2 Base Year Verification
Schools operating in the Base Year of Provision 2 must complete annual Income Verification to confirm student eligibility for free or reduced-price meals.
The process involves sampling applications on file as of October 1, 2026, verifying household documentation, updating eligibility, and maintaining records.
Important Deadlines:
- November 15, 2026: Complete verification.
- December 15, 2026: Submit the Verification Collection Report through CNMS.
Schools operating entirely under CEP or in a non-base year of Provision 2 are exempt.
View the 2026–2027 Verification Procedures.
- 2026–2027 Administrative Reviews
NYSED reviews SFAs every five years to ensure compliance with the NSLP, School Breakfast Program, and other Child Nutrition Programs.
- 2026-27 Reviews: Scheduled schools should start organizing documentation now. If you missed SMS’ recent in-person training with NYSED representatives, you can watch NYSED’s Administrative Review Process Webinar here.
- 2027-28 Reviews: Scheduled schools must begin gathering prior-year procurement records, vendor payments, and bookkeeping logs. View the Administrative Review Schedule for Next School Year (Cycle 4, Year 4).
- Upcoming Mid-Year Enrollment Period
NYSED’s mid-year enrollment opens December 1, 2026, through February 1, 2027, exclusively for CEP-eligible new Recipient Agencies (RAs).
Schools should use this time to finalize internal decisions, verify eligibility prerequisites, and gather required documentation before the December 1 application release.
- Proposed Changes to Child Nutrition Programs
USDA’s upcoming proposed rule, Reducing Complexity and Food Waste in the Child Nutrition Programs, aims to simplify meal patterns, ease monitoring, improve quality, and cut waste. These updates are not final, and we will share new details as they emerge.
- Milk Substitutions
Schools may offer non-dairy milk substitutes to all students or via written parental request for non-disability reasons. For reimbursable meals, substitutes must be nutritionally equivalent to milk, meeting USDA standards and FDA fortification guidelines.
- Upcoming Equipment Grant Opportunities
NYSED has announced two upcoming equipment grant opportunities:
- FY 2026 Equipment Grant: Up to $1,198,869 in approved funding. Application details will be released soon.
- FY 2027 Harvest to Hallways Equipment Grant: $3,197,000 in announced funding.
NYSED will announce final application requirements and deadlines for both grants, which are designed to benefit schools participating in the NSLP.
Schools Interested in Applying Should:
- Ensure registration and prequalification in the NYS Statewide Financial System (SFS), as applicable.
- Identify needed kitchen equipment valued at over $1,000 and obtain estimated costs.
- Keep financial and procurement records organized and up to date.
SMS Grant Application Support
SMS offers grant writing and application assistance to a limited number of schools. Interested schools are encouraged to contact our team early, as assistance will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information, visit the USDA Harvest to Hallways Grant Announcement.
- Upcoming NYSED Child Nutrition Webinar
NYSED continues to offer free webinars that count toward USDA Professional Standards training requirements.
November 19, 2026: Procurement Webinar
1:00–2:00 p.m. | 1 Professional Standards training hour
These updates are intended help you stay informed about crucial deadlines and opportunities. The SMS team is always here to answer questions, offer guidance, and support your Child Nutrition Program reach out anytime.
The SMS Team