SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM Description The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a federally assisted meal program to students in public and nonprofit private institutions and residential child care institutions. The program began its first operating year in 1966 but it didn’t become a permanent program until 1975. The meals must be offered at a free and reduced-price and meet federal nutrition requirements. On the federal level, the program is administered at the by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS). On the state level, it is administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture. The SBP operates similarly to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Districts and independent schools can choose to serve breakfast to students before school or sometime during the morning. Students’ families fill out an application at the beginning of the school year to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price meals (FRP).14
Eligibility Schools must offer meals at full price, reduced-price, or free to students based on their household income. A child from a household living at 130 percent of the federal poverty level or below is eligible for free meals. Children from a household living at 185 percent or below the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals. A child from a household living above 185 percent of the poverty level must pay full price for meals.15 For the 2012-2013 school year, annual income for a household of four living at 130 percent of the poverty level is $29,965. For a household of four living at 185 percent of the poverty, annual income is $42,643.16
Nutrition Requirements Districts must comply with federal nutrition guidelines when preparing breakfast for students. Each breakfast must include fruits and vegetables, a grain, a meat or meat alternative, and milk. The USDA-FNS has created specific nutrient and caloric requirements for these meals that must be followed by states.
SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENTS FOR 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR NON-SEVERE NEED
SEVERE NEED
FREE
$1.51
$1.80
REDUCED PRICE
$1.21
$1.50
PAID
$0.27
$0.27
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/notices/naps/NAPs11-12.pdf
Reimbursement The USDA reimburses schools in cash for each breakfast distributed. Schools classified as non-severe need receive $1.51 for each free meal, $1.21 for each reduced-price meal, and $0.27 for each paid meal. Schools receive extra money if they are classified as “severe-need.” To qualify, a school must have 40% or more of meals distributed served at free or reduced-price. The school then receives $1.50 per reduced-price meal and $1.80 per free meal.18
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