Child Nutrition Programs

Nutrition Programs News Headlines
11/08/19		FY20 State Budget Mandate Breakfast After the Bell
08/16/19		National School Nutrition Programs Reimbursement Rates for Fiscal Year 2020
08/08/19		FY2020 Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Training Opportunities, August–December, 2019

The Child Nutrition Programs administered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education plays a critical role in ensuring that all children are ready to learn by supporting nutritious meal service in schools, day care centers, family day care homes, residential child care institutions, and summer feeding programs.

• After School Meals
  Offers cash reimbursement to help schools and after-school care programs serve snacks and/or suppers to children after their regular school day ends.

• Child and Adult Care Food Program
  The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that provides reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults who are enrolled for care at participating child care centers, day care homes, and adult day care centers. CACFP also provides reimbursements for meals served to children and youth participating in afterschool care programs, children residing in emergency shelters, adults over the age of 60 or living with a disability and enrolled in day care facilities.

• National School Lunch Program
  The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides wholesome and tasty lunches each school day! This federally assisted meal program operates in nearly 95,000 public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to more than 26 million children each school day.

• School Breakfast
  The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a federal program that provides reimbursement to states to operate nonprofit breakfast programs in schools and residential childcare institutions. School breakfasts help children nationwide start their school day well-nourished and ready to learn!

• Special Milk Program
  The Special Milk Program (SMP) provides milk to children in schools and child-care institutions that do not participate in other Federal child nutrition meal service programs. The program reimburses schools for the milk they serve.

• Summer Food Service Program
  The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) reimburses program operators who serve free healthy meals and snacks to children and teens in low-income areas.