Events and Due Dates for SFAs

Events appear in the order they will occur during the school year. Please keep an eye on upcoming deadlines.

Events for School Food Authorities

July

• Attend the School Nutrition Association Annual Conference

August

• Promote your child nutrition programs using outreach materials
  • School Meals Outreach Toolkit
  • Summer Meals Outreach Toolkit

September

• Participate in Colorado Proud School Meal Day.

October

• Learn about National Farm to School Month
• Attend the School Nutrition Industry Conference
• Attend the Food and Nutrition Conference Expo (FNCE)
• Participate in National School Lunch Week (Oct. 9-13)
• Participate in Mountain Plains Crunch Off (Oct. 16)

November

• N/A

December

• View School Nutrition Unit state match information release for SFAs.

January

• N/A

February

• N/A

March

• Attend the Legislative Action Conference (LAC) Washington, DC
• Participate in National School Breakfast Week
• Participate in National Nutrition Month

April

• Attend the FRAC Anti-Hunger Policy Conference

May

• Participate in School Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week (May 1-5)
• Participate in School Lunch Hero Day (May 5)

June

• Attend the Colorado School Nutrition Association (CSNA) Summer Conference

Due Dates for School Food Authorities

July

• Begin matching students via Direct Certification (Online system opens)
• Fill out Free and Reduced Price letter and application (Distributed July 1)

August

• Fill out report for Local Food Program information (Due August 1)
• Complete Direct Certification: First Match (Complete by the first day of school)
• Complete Nonprogram Revenue (NPR) Tool submission 

September

• Complete School Nutrition Programs Application Renewals (Due Sept 15)
• Review Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) (Previous funds Expire Sept. 30)

October

• Reapply for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) (Funds Available Oct. 1)
• Begin Verification process (Oct. 1)
• Submit Food Safety Inspections Report to the School Nutrition Unit (Due Oct. 31)
• Complete Direct Certification: Second Match (Oct. 31)
• Complete required Direct Certification SNAP Validation form

November

• Complete Verification process (Ends Nov. 15)
• Complete Direct Certification: Third Match (Nov. 15)

December

• N/A

January

• Complete Food Service Management Companies registration (Due Jan. 31)

February

• Complete on-site reviews for districts with more than one school by Feb. 1
• New SFA Applications, including Charter School SFA applications are due for the following school year on Feb. 15
• Verification Collection Report (VCR) data must be submitted to School Nutrition Unit
• Request for Proposal (RFP) packets mailed to SFAs for new contracts with Food Service Management Companies

March

• Participate in Summer Food Service Program Sponsor Training
• Apply for Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) (Applications open March 1)
• Complete Direct Certification: fourth match (Due March 15)
• Renewal Packets for Food Service Management Companies are sent to SFAs.

April

• Review Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) :
  • CDE School Nutrition distributes the Community Eligibility Provision Packet to SFAs
  • Identified and enrolled student data must be reported by all districts to School Nutrition by April 6
  • CEP Notification of Districtwide Eligibility by April 15
• Apply for Summer Food Service Program new, private nonprofit sponsor applications (Due April 15)

May

• Submit Summer Food Service Program Applications (Due May 1)
• School Nutrition Unit distributes Free and Reduced Price Application and supporting materials to SFAs
• Email Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) documents (verification of data and compliance option) to GFPLE@cde.state.co.us
• Complete and Submit Food Service Management Companies contract renewal addendum for School Nutrition approval (Due May 31)

June

• Apply for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) (Closing deadline)
• Complete Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) . Request Form is due from interested SFAs