The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a federally funded meal program operating in public, public charter, and nonprofit private schools as well as residential child care institutions (RCCIs). The SBP provides cash subsidies to assist schools with meeting meal costs while providing students nutritious breakfasts to begin their school day and promote learning readiness and healthy eating behaviors. OSSE’s Division of Health & Wellness, School Programs Team administers the SBP for the District of Columbia.
Schools must apply to participate in the SBP on an annual basis. The application for the SBP is included in the application for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and therefore only one application must be completed to participate in both programs. This application is submitted through Orchard.
Certain meal pattern and nutrition requirements must be met for all breakfast meals served. Schools must also meet and maintain certain paperwork requirements for participation. All students in the District who attend schools that participate in the SBP receive free school breakfast.
Schools receive funding for the SBP by being reimbursed for all eligible breakfasts served. An “eligible” breakfast is one that meets all the nutrition and meal pattern requirements set forth by the federal regulations. Reimbursements rates are set each year by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Breakfasts served to students who qualify for free meals are reimbursed at the highest rate, while breakfasts served to students who qualify for paid meals are reimbursed at the lowest rate.
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Additional information on the program can be found at the USDA School Breakfast Program page.