The Office for Food and Nutrition Programs, in collaboration with other state and federal agencies and statewide partners, works to ensure schools and districts build internal capacity to provide food system education and experiences to students, staff and school communities.
This work is made possible through the Massachusetts State Legislature and allows the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to make available the following support:
Grant Opportunities
MA Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health (MA FRESH) — This grant supports schools, districts and early education programs that sponsor Child Nutrition Programs start or expand their capacity to grow or procure local food and educate students, teachers, school nutrition professionals and staff about the local food system. Massachusetts Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health MA FRESH projects also provide students with experiential learning opportunities in their school gardens, community and at Massachusetts farms, food businesses, and fisheries.
MA Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health with Coordination and Optimization of Resources and Partnerships (MA FRESH CORP) — This grant supports schools, districts and early education programs that sponsor Child Nutrition Programs to build capacity, coordinate and execute local food system education and local procurement through the funding of new staff salaries, stipends or contractor fees to ensure local food system activities are strategically integrated into the classroom, cafeteria and community.
For Massachusetts Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health MA FRESH resources and technical support, please visit Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE Food and Nutrition Programs FNP's contracted partner Massachusetts Farm to School .
Universal Free School Meals
As of the 2023–2024 school year, Massachusetts became the 8th state to permanently established universal free school meals, ensuring that all students have access to nutritious food at school at no cost to their families. Every student attending a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program can enjoy a healthy lunch each day as well as free breakfast through the School Breakfast Program.
The meals served to students in the National School Lunch Program are the most consistent form of food system education available in K–12 institutions as students receive daily exposure to what a healthy plate looks like. Through prioritizing local sourcing and product transparency, a priority outlined by Massachusetts School Meals Nutrition Standards Commission Report and integrated into the Office for Food and Nutrition Programs' Menu Strategy Matrix tool, school meals seek to represent the local food system with every bite. Initiatives such as the state's Terrific Tray Competition as well as the Northeast Food for School Challenge amplify the power of Universal Free School Meals to be a equitable driver of food system education and agricultural investment in the Commonwealth.
Professional Development and Curriculum Resources
Nutrition, plant science, the economics of food, cultural foodways, sustainability and food security are topics woven into all of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and are covered by educators in a multitude of subject areas.
The Comprehensive Health and Physical Education (CHPE) Framework specifically highlights topics of nutrition, food production, supply and access. A curriculum guide is available to educators that spotlights high quality instructional food system education materials that align with the Massachusetts Comprehensive Health and Physical Education CHPE Curriculum Framework.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE's Office for Food and Nutrition Programs and Center for Instructional Support work closely with contracted partners to ensure that educators and school nutrition professionals have access to professional development that supports food system education. Updated offerings that support professional learning specifically for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education CHPE are available through the Center for Instructional Support. Additionally, some of Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE's contracted partners that offer food system education professional development that provide Professional Development Points (PDPs) and/or Continuing Education Units (CEU) credits to participants include:
Massachusetts School Wellness Coaching Program
A Local Wellness Policy (LWP) is a written document that helps a school district establish an environment that prioritizes student health, well-being and ability to learn. A Local Educational Agency (LEA) enrolled in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program is required by law to have a Local Wellness Policy, and strong local school wellness policies can provide justification for food system education, as well as buy-in from a variety of stakeholders.
The Massachusetts School Wellness Coaching Program provides participating schools with a coach that supports School Wellness Committees in developing and implementing a Local Wellness Policy, including guidance on how to incorporate food literacy policy language to meet Local Wellness Policy requirements, such as setting nutrition education goals. With this in mind, strong local wellness policies create a solid foundation for food system education in schools.
Other State Resources
Last Updated: July 24, 2026