The CACFP food program in Maryland.

Maryland State Department of Education runs the CACFP food program in Maryland. Here is its link, who can join and what meals must hold.

Checked on the state's and USDA's own pages, November 4, 2026.

Who runs CACFP in Maryland

Maryland State Department of Education, Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs

Go to the Maryland State Department of Education page

Source: MSDE Announces Availability of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (September 22, 2026)

How to join CACFP in Maryland

This agency's own CACFP pages are not on a .gov website, so no steps are listed here.

For CACFP questions, call the MSDE Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs at 410-767-0199.

Source: MSDE Announces Availability of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (September 22, 2026)

Ask the agency how to apply. Go to the Maryland State Department of Education page.

Who can join

Child care centers

Licensed or approved public or nonprofit child care centers, Head Start and after-school care centers can take part.

Source: Child and Adult Care Food Program

To start, a center contacts its state agency.

Source: Program Operator (CACFP)
For-profit centers

At least 25 percent of the children must qualify for free or reduced-price meals. It counts enrolled children or licensed spots, whichever is less.

Source: 7 CFR 226.2 Definitions (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02)
Home daycares

A home daycare cannot join on its own. It joins through a sponsoring organization.

Source: 7 CFR 226.2 Definitions (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02)
After-school programs

Ask your state agency if your after-school program can serve CACFP meals.

Source: How to Participate in the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Component of CACFP (fact sheet)

What a CACFP meal must hold

Breakfast

Serve all three: milk, a vegetable or fruit, and a grain.

Source: 7 CFR 226.20 Requirements for meals (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02; section last amended 2026-06-08)
Lunch and supper

Serve all five: milk, a protein food, a vegetable, a fruit and a grain.

Source: 7 CFR 226.20 Requirements for meals (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02; section last amended 2026-06-08)
Snack

Pick two of the five food groups. Milk and juice cannot be the only two.

Source: 7 CFR 226.20 Requirements for meals (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02; section last amended 2026-06-08)
Milk

Children age 1 get unflavored whole milk. Children 2 to 5 get unflavored milk. It can be whole, 2 percent, 1 percent or fat-free. Children 6 and older may have flavored or unflavored milk.

Source: 7 CFR 226.20 Requirements for meals (eCFR, up to date as of 2026-11-02; section last amended 2026-06-08)

See the least amounts for each age on the full meal chart.

What CACFP pays

Payment rates change every July.

Source: CACFP Reimbursement Rates

This year's rates for centers and homes are on our CACFP rates page.

Questions, answered

Who runs CACFP in Maryland?

Maryland State Department of Education, Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs runs the program.

How do I join CACFP in Maryland?

Ask Maryland State Department of Education how to apply. Its link is on this page.

Can a home daycare join CACFP in Maryland?

A home must have a current license or approval to care for children. A home daycare cannot join on its own. It joins through a sponsoring organization.

How much does CACFP pay in Maryland?

Payment rates change every July. This year's rates for centers and homes are on our CACFP rates page.

About this page

Checked on the state's and USDA's own pages, November 4, 2026.

Bloomily does not run CACFP or decide who can join.

This page is a summary of the state's and USDA's own pages. It is not legal advice, and rules change.

Sources for this state

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