The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office for Food and Nutrition Programs (FNP) supports Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) operators by providing training and resources on program regulation and policy, along with administrative and operational best practices. This memo includes a detailed list of training opportunities scheduled for fiscal year 2027 (FY27).
DESE is expanding the availability of live training opportunities (virtual and in-person), on-demand training modules, and complementary training resources to support adult learners and increase availability of learning for a variety of schedules. Please read through the entire memo about all the training and resource offerings this fiscal year.
CACFP Sponsors are required to provide a minimum of two (2) hours of CACFP training to their staff annually. Civil Rights training is also required annually for all staff in the CACFP but does not count toward the 2-hour CACFP training requirement. Sponsors should utilize the available resources in the Document and Reference Library to train staff on topics relevant to their roles and responsibilities or encourage staff to attend live training opportunities to meet this requirement. Sponsors should consider if any complementary materials or resources containing sponsor-specific policies or practices should be provided to staff.
Additionally, the designated "CACFP Responsible Contact(s)"; is/are required to participate in CACFP training provided by the MA State Agency (DESE) each year. Each sponsoring organization is responsible for ensuring that the individual(s) listed as their CACFP Responsible Contact(s) is registered/has attended a MA DESE training and has received sufficient training to oversee the program in compliance with federal and state regulations.
Reserve your Wednesdays at 1pm this fall and gear up for a new CACFP fiscal year with DESE! To prepare for the upcoming fiscal year, our team is offering consistent training opportunities on all aspects of the CACFP. These events, offered over Zoom, will address important topics of program operations and establish expectations for compliance but also provide best practices and identify opportunities for program quality improvement.
The following events are all held from 1–2 pm on Zoom. Registration links are included in the table below. These live training events will be recorded and made available in the Document and Reference Library.
In these bimonthly town hall-style events, DESE will provide reminders and updates to CACFP sponsors, as well as introduce any new materials, resources, and guidance from USDA and/or DESE. These sessions are an opportunity to ask your CACFP questions of FNP staff. Individuals can submit their questions or requests for topics to be covered in these sessions through an anonymous online survey .
Register once and attend any/all sessions!
CACFP Town Hall Registration Link : This link will register you for all town halls.
Preparing for Home Reviews in FY27
Eligibility in Action: Tiering and Eligibility in FDC
Join us for a full-day in-person CACFP training event designed to spark conversation, build connections, and strengthen your program. This session will go beyond the basics, featuring facilitated discussions, hands-on activities, and opportunities to share ideas and challenges with fellow CACFP institutions and sponsors. Whether you're a seasoned participant or new to CACFP, you'll walk away with practical strategies, fresh perspectives, and a stronger sense of community. Come ready to engage, collaborate, and participate! Agendas and additional details available prior to the event date.
Join DESE for a half-day, hybrid experience to dive back into the basics of CACFP. This will be a CACFP crash course — reviewing the program's purpose, eligibility, enrollment, meal pattern, meal service, recordkeeping and more. This will be an engaging chance for program sponsors to learn, network, and apply their knowledge.
Lecture content will be available via a hybrid format for the first half of the day for those unable to attend in-person. If joining in-person, interactive activities will be available for the second half of the day. These will include breakouts with DESE staff and fellow operators, peer networking conversations, and specialized multi-modal learning activities.
New directors and staff are especially encouraged to join.
Join us for a half-day training designed to elevate your approach to nutrition and meal service in CACFP settings. Hosted in collaboration with The John C. Stalker Institute of Food and Nutrition at Framingham State University, this engaging event will highlight the power of scratch cooking, the value of local foods, and the role of nutrition education in building healthier programs. Through interactive sessions and hands-on culinary workshops, participants will explore practical strategies for creating creditable, appealing meals and discover effective ways to engage program participants in nutrition and culinary experience.
MA DESE continues to build up the online library of trainings which can be viewed at any time. Please see the CACFP Training and Resources folder in the Document and Reference Library for all CACFP-related training, support, and resources.
These interactive, online courses are designed to engage the participant and clearly communicate the training content. These on-demand courses can be completed across multiple sessions at the availability of the participant. The following courses will be released in August 2026 from the Nutrition Bites Online Training Modules webpage :
This website hosts online training modules on the CACFP, including menu planning tools, recipes, and videos to support self-prep centers and home-based providers.
Once a quarter (September 1st, December 1st, March 1st, June 1st) DESE releases the "Fueling the Commonwealth"; newsletter. These newsletters are incredible resources filled with important upcoming dates, answer commonly asked questions, and highlight some seasonal food facts and link out to nutrition resources. All sponsors are highly encouraged to sign up to receive this newsletter .
MA DESE is continuing the opportunity for a DESE consultant to provide onsite personalized and targeted technical assistance (TA) and training. This opportunity is available on a limited basis and interested programs must apply to be considered. Priority will be given to programs who can demonstrate they have utilized available training resources and have specific TA needs. Visits will be scheduled based on the program and the consultant's availability.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Last Updated: July 21, 2026