Skip to main content
Resource | Technical Assistance Summary of the Professional Standards for School Nutrition Professionals Flyer

The Summary of the Professional Standards for School Nutrition Professionals flyer provides an overview of the professional standards requirements which consist of hiring standards and annual training requirements for state directors of school nutrition programs, state director of distributing agencies, school nutrition program directors, managers, and staff.

03/24/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study: Methods Used to Estimate the Cost of Producing School Meals

This fact sheet summarizes the methods used in the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study (SNMCS) to collect, process, and analyze data to estimate the cost of producing reimbursable school meals. The methods were based on approaches used in prior USDA studies.

10/19/2021
Resource | Technical Assistance School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study: Methods Used to Examine Student Dietary Intakes

This fact sheet describes the methods used in the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study (SNMCS) to collect, process, and analyze data on students’ dietary intakes.

10/19/2021
Resource | Technical Assistance School Nutrition & Meal Cost Study: Methods Used to Examine Nutritional Characteristics of School Meals

This fact sheet describes the methods used in the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study (SNMCS) to collect, process, and analyze data to examine nutritional characteristics of school meals. 

10/19/2021
Resource | Technical Assistance School Nutrition & Meal Cost Study: Plate Waste in School Meals

This factsheet describes the methods used in the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study (SNMCS) to collect, process, and analyze data to assess plate waste in the school meal programs.

10/19/2021
Resource | Technical Assistance School Nutrition & Meal Cost Study: Study Design & Implementation

The School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study was a comprehensive study of the school meal programs. This fact sheet provides an overview of the design and implementation of the SNMCS, including the research objectives, sample design, data collection approach, and response rates. 

10/19/2021
Resource | Technical Assistance Guide to Professional Standards for School Nutrition Programs

A central resource outlining the USDA Professional Standards requirements for state and local school nutrition professionals.

12/07/2020
Resource | Policy Questions & Answers Regarding Professional Standards for State and Local School Nutrition Program Personnel

This Q&A memorandum is designed to provide an overview of the policies related to the Professional Standards regulations for state and local school nutrition program personnel. 

01/14/2020
Resource | Technical Assistance Professional Standards for School Nutrition Professionals

Professional Standards for school nutrition professionals is a key provision of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The final rule, published March 2, 2015, requires a minimum amount of annual training hours for all state directors of school nutrition programs, state director of distributing agencies, school nutrition program directors, managers, and staff.

09/08/2019
Basic page Professional Standards Learning Objectives & Training Topics

The professional standards learning objectives are a resource for school nutrition professionals and trainers.

02/10/2019
Page updated: June 02, 2026