Have you heard? High-needs schools that operate the School Breakfast Program (SBP) are required to implement a Breakfast After the Bell (BAB) program and give students adequate time to eat their breakfast for the 2022-23 school year.
OSPI has all the information you need to create a plan to make this happen. Not sure if your school is required to operate a BAB program? Need some creative resources to make your program successful? Check out the School Breakfast Program page on OSPI’s website.
RCW 28A.235.200 defines high-needs schools as any public school where at least 70% of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Or, if operating the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), the school a free claiming percentage of 70% or more.
Breakfast After the Bell is a breakfast offered to students after the beginning of the school day. BAB programs allow all students to eat a nutritious meal at the beginning of the school day. Improved learning outcomes, including attendance, behavior, and academics, are all linked to increased breakfast participation.
The three nationally recognized models of BAB are:
Breakfast in the Classroom - Breakfasts are served in the classroom.
Second Chance Breakfast - In addition to traditional, before-school breakfast, breakfast is available a second time during a nutrition break or between classes.
Grab and Go - Easy to eat foods are available for students to take to the classroom at the start of the school day.
In Breakfast After the Bell programs, students are freely encouraged to have breakfast and are given adequate time to eat their breakfast. Students should not be separated from their peers or excluded from instructional activities. Breakfast counts as instructional time! (RCW 28A.150.205)
If you need more information, check out this edition of AWSP TV I did last year with Nelly Evans, Food Security Program Coordinator of United Way of King County, and Mikhail Cherniske, Legislative Program Specialist at OSPI.
For specific questions, contact Mikhail Cherniske at 360-999-0962. You can also check out https://washingtonbreakfast.org!