Overview
The John C. Stalker Institute of Food and Nutrition at Framingham State University offers an exceptional leadership opportunity for those working in school nutrition programs in Massachusetts and the USDA's New England Region. The goal of this highly acclaimed five-course undergraduate program is to increase the knowledge and skills of directors and senior management in school nutrition programs.
USDA has established minimum professional standards requirements for school nutrition professionals who manage and operate the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. The standards, established in section 306 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act require minimum education standards for new state and local school nutrition directors as well as annual training standards for all school nutrition professionals. The Office for Food and Nutrition Programs at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has accepted the Certificate in Excellence in School Nutrition as the State-recognized certification for School Nutrition Directors (SND) as outlined in the USDA Professional Standards hiring criteria for SNDs.