Food and Nutrition Programs

FY26 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Training Opportunities

To:Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Sponsoring Organizations
From:Robert M. Leshin, Director, Office for Food and Nutrition Programs
Date:March 26, 2026

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office for Food and Nutrition Programs (FNP) will provide training opportunities to SFSP sponsoring organizations on program regulations and operations. This memo includes a detailed list of training events scheduled for fiscal year 2026 (FY26).

Training will be offered in several formats: an interactive online course, live Zoom sessions, recorded on-demand presentations, and in-person events held at the DESE office in Everett, and across the state. Almost all training methods will yield a completion certificate and DESE does not require one training format over another. Live training events will hold space for questions from programs, but if sponsors are unable to attend a live session, they can attend the Town Hall events or send questions directly to their consultant.

Each SFSP sponsor is required to complete an SFSP operational training annually. This requirement is verified via the online application where a training completion certificate is uploaded into the "SFSP Annual Training Participation Certificate" component. This is required for an application to be considered fully submitted.

As a reminder, the application renewal training will not count towards the annual training requirement. Sponsors must complete any of the available operational-based trainings to meet the annual training requirement.

Live Zoom Trainings

The following events will be held live over Zoom. These events will allow participants to ask questions about the information presented. Some of these events will be recorded and a recording will be made available after the event.

  • Potential/New Sponsor Office Hours: This session is an opportunity for potential and new SFSP sponsors, new directors, or anyone looking for a bit more information on SFSP. It will be held in an open office hours-style to provide sponsors a time to ask questions, network, and prepare for the upcoming SFSP application season. It will be an opportunity for interested new sponsors or new directors to learn about SFSP regulations, requirements, first year application and review processes, and ask questions of DESE team in an open environment. This session will not be recorded.
  • FY26 SFSP Application Training: This webinar will provide an overview of the SFSP application for FY26 (with an anticipated roll date of May 1st, 2026). In this training, we will review the required application components, important updates to site and sponsor application, and review the process for sponsors adding new sites. This event will be recorded and the presentation slides with a link to the recording will be available to view after the live event.
  • FY26 SFSP Town Hall: This town hall-style event will allow programs to ask questions directly to FNP as they relate to SFSP. Sponsors are encouraged to submit to DESE their SFSP-related questions by using this link to an anonymous Q&A survey ahead of the town hall, but are also welcome to ask questions during the live event. These events are great opportunities to get important reminders about SFSP operations while programming is being offered.
    • Session 1
      • Date: Tuesday, July 14th
      • Time: 2:00 – 3:00 pm
    • Session 2
      • Date: Tuesday, August 11th
      • Time: 2:00 – 3:00 pm
    • SFSP Town Hall Registration Link
      • This will automatically register for both events.

In-Person Training: Regional SFSP Summer Symposiums

DESE will offer 3 in-person training opportunities across the state: one in the DESE office space in Everett, MA, and two smaller regional gatherings in Western MA and the Southern/Cape Area. These trainings will provide a deep dive into several important aspects of the Summer Food Service Program and give attendees the opportunity to ask questions and talk with their peers.

  • SFSP Summer Symposium — Eastern MA
    • Date: Monday, May 11th, 2026
    • Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
    • Location: DESE Offices, 135 Santilli Highway, 3rd Floor, Everett, MA 02149
  • SFSP Summer Symposium — South Shore/Cape Cod
    • Date: Thursday, May 28th, 2026
    • Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm
    • Location: Plymouth Public Schools Central Office, Mayflower Room, 11 Lincoln St, Plymouth, MA 02360
      • Note: This training will include a special section on rural non-congregate feeding best practices.
  • SFSP Summer Symposium — Central/Western MA
    • Date: Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026
    • Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm
    • Location: Holyoke Public Library, Community Room, 250 Chestnut St, Holyoke, MA 01040
      • Note: This training will include a special section on rural non-congregate feeding best practices.

  • In-Person Training Registration Link

In-Person Training Agenda*

SessionTimeTopics
Welcome 9:30 – 10:00am Check-in & Welcoming Remarks
Parking details will be shared ahead of time
Planning your Sites 10:00am – 10:45am Site types & eligibility
Planning site engagement and promoting your sites! — with the Child Nutrition Outreach Program team at Project Bread!
Planning your Meals 10:45am – 12:00pm Meal Service Types
  • Note: Holyoke and Plymouth trainings will feature a spotlight on non-congregate meals
Unitized vs. Offer Versus Serve (OVS)
SFSP Meal Pattern
Food Safety
Office Hours & Lunch 12:00pm – 12:45pm

Everett Training: There is a cafeteria in the building with food, drinks, and coffee available for purchase. No cash is accepted.

DESE staff will be available during this time to answer questions and review documents.
Overseeing your Sites 12:45pm – 1:45pm Site monitoring
Follow up reviews
Meal count consolidation & claim edits
Preparing for Success 1:45pm – 2:30pm Training site staff and monitors
Understanding DESE reviews
Application and reporting requirements
*Agenda is subject to change.

Online Course: Operating the SFSP

The on-demand course, Operating the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), provides important information on the SFSP, including site types and eligibility, meal service, meal pattern, program recordkeeping, and program monitoring. This course serves as an interactive and engaging complement to the SFSP Program Guide which is released by DESE.

This resource is accessible to all, and sponsors are encouraged to review this training content with their program staff. A certificate of completion is available at the end of the course. This training counts toward the annual training requirement.

Link to on-demand Operating the Summer Food Service Program Course

Recorded PowerPoint Trainings:

Recorded, on-demand SFSP trainings are available in the "SFSP Sponsor Training Materials" folder in the Document and Reference Library in the DESE Security Portal.

The following training courses are available on-demand. These may be used to train SFSP site staff, as appropriate.

  • Point of Service Meal Counts Training
  • SFSP Meal Pattern Requirements Training
  • SFSP Meal Service Types Training
  • SFSP Site Monitoring Training
  • Food Safety and Meal Temping Training
    • Please note: This training is Not a food safety certification substitute

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.





Last Updated: March 26, 2026



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