Harper West
The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a federally funded program that provides free and reduced-cost breakfasts to children at public and private schools and childcare facilities in the United States. The program operates in about 90,000 public and nonprofit private schools, serving over 2.4 billion breakfasts to approximately 14.7 million students in FY 2018 and 2019. The SBP has been associated with positive outcomes, such as improved diet quality, reduced food insecurity, and a lower body mass index (BMI) among participating students.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Program | School Breakfast Program (SBP) |
| Administered by | Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) |
| Schools Covered | Public and private schools, and child care facilities in the United States |
| Grades Covered | Pre-kindergarten–12 |
| Number of Schools | About 90,000 |
| Number of Children Served | 16 million (as of 2010); 14.7 million (FY 2018 and 2019); 8.2 million (FY 2002) |
| Number of Meals Served | More than 2.5 billion (FY 2024); 2.4 billion (FY 2018); 658 million (FY 1989) |
| Cost of Meals | Free for children from families with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty level; reduced price for families with incomes between 130% and 185% of the poverty level; full price for families over 185% poverty level |
| Total Cost | $5.7 billion (FY 2024) |
| Nutrition Standards | Meals must meet Federal nutrition standards and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans |
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What You'll Learn
How does the School Breakfast Program work?
The School Breakfast Program (SBP) provides low-cost or free breakfasts to children and is typically operated in about 90,000 public and nonprofit private schools (grades pre-kindergarten to 12) and residential child care institutions. The program is administered by the USDA 's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which reimburses participating schools and institutions for the meals served to students.
Any student in a participating school can get an SBP breakfast. Students from households with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty line are eligible for a free breakfast, while those between 130% and 185% of the poverty line can receive a reduced-price breakfast. Schools may charge no more than 30 cents for a reduced-price breakfast, and they must operate their meal services as non-profit programs. Schools set their own prices for breakfasts served to students who pay the full meal price. Schools in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico may qualify for higher reimbursement rates.
The SBP provides millions of children with a nutritious morning meal, helping to ensure that they have the focus and energy they need throughout their school day. Research supports the health and educational benefits of participation in the SBP, with children who have access to the program being more likely to eat breakfast and have a lower body mass index (BMI). The program also contributes positively to the diet quality of participating students.
States and school districts have implemented various strategies to increase participation in the SBP, such as serving breakfast after the bell and offering breakfast at no charge to all students. Schools that choose to participate in the program receive cash subsidies from the USDA for each meal they serve. In return, they must serve breakfasts that meet federal nutritional requirements and offer free or reduced-price breakfasts to eligible children.
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Who qualifies for free/reduced-price breakfasts?
The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a federally funded meal program that provides free and reduced-cost breakfasts to children in around 90,000 public and private schools, as well as childcare facilities in the United States. The program is administered at the federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and typically operates in schools from pre-kindergarten to grade 12.
Any student in a participating school can get an SBP breakfast, with eligible students receiving free or reduced-price breakfasts depending on their household income. Children from families with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty level are eligible for free meals. This was around 6.7 million children in 2003. Those with incomes between 130% and 185% of the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals, which schools may charge no more than 30 cents for. Families over 185% of the poverty level must pay the full price, although their meals are still subsidized to some extent.
The SBP has been found to positively impact children's health and academic performance. Studies have shown that children with access to the SBP are more likely to eat breakfast, which has been linked to lower body mass indexes (BMI) and improved diet quality. Additionally, research has found that students who participate in school breakfast programs have higher standardised test scores, improved psychosocial behaviour, and lower levels of absenteeism.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the USDA issued waivers and expanded the scope of the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) to ensure that children eligible for free or reduced-price meals could still receive them during school closures.
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How much reimbursement do schools get?
The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in about 90,000 public and private nonprofit schools and residential child care institutions. The program provides low-cost or free breakfasts to children and is administered by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The USDA provides support to schools in the SBP primarily through cash reimbursements for each breakfast served. Schools may set their own prices for breakfasts served to students who pay the full meal price, but they must operate their meal services as non-profit programs. Schools may charge no more than 30 cents for a reduced-price breakfast, and students from households with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty line are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130% and 185% of the poverty line are eligible for reduced-price meals. Even children from families with incomes above 185% of the poverty line may still receive some subsidy for their meals.
The reimbursement rates vary depending on the level of need within a school. Schools in "severe need" receive higher reimbursements, with rates differing for free, reduced-price, and paid breakfasts. For the period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, the reimbursement rates for schools in severe need were as follows:
- Contiguous states: free breakfast ($2.94), reduced-price breakfast ($2.64), paid breakfast ($0.40)
- Alaska: free breakfast ($4.73), reduced-price breakfast ($4.43), paid breakfast ($0.62)
- Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands: free breakfast ($3.81), reduced-price breakfast ($3.51), paid breakfast ($0.51)
In addition to cash reimbursements, the USDA provides technical training and assistance to help school food service staff prepare healthy meals. Through Team Nutrition, the USDA also offers nutrition education to help children understand the connection between diet and health.
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What are the nutritional requirements?
The School Breakfast Program (SBP) provides low-cost or free breakfasts to children in around 78,000 to 90,000 public and nonprofit private schools. The SBP is administered at the federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The nutritional requirements for the SBP are set by the FNS and are designed to ensure that students enter the classroom well-nourished and ready to learn. The meals served through SBP must meet federal nutrition standards, which were updated in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) to align with the Federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Schools may offer grains, meats/meat alternates, or a combination of both to meet the daily and weekly ounce equivalents for this combined component. At least 80% of grains offered weekly at breakfast must be whole grain-rich, and the remaining grain items offered must be enriched. All fluid milk must be fat-free (skim) or low-fat (1% fat or less), and schools must meet the dietary specification for added sugars and sodium limits by specified dates.
Schools have the flexibility to use fresh, frozen, or canned products to meet the vegetable requirement and have access to nutritious vegetable choices through USDA Foods. For example, reduced sodium canned vegetables with no more than 140 mg of sodium per half-cup serving or frozen vegetables with no added salt are available through the USDA.
The FNS also provides technical training and assistance to help school food service staff prepare healthy meals through Team Nutrition. This includes nutrition education to help children understand the link between diet and health.
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What are the benefits of the School Breakfast Program?
The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a federally funded meal program that provides free and reduced-cost breakfasts to children in public and private schools, as well as childcare facilities in the United States. The program typically operates in about 90,000 public and nonprofit private schools, serving over 15 million children, with just over 12 million receiving free or reduced-price breakfasts.
The SBP has numerous benefits for students' academic, behavioural, and social development. Firstly, it ensures that children from low-income households have access to nutritious meals, improving their overall diet quality and food security. Research has shown that children with access to the SBP are more likely to eat breakfast and have lower body mass indexes (BMIs). Additionally, the program helps schools improve the nutrition and dietary practices of students, especially those from low-income families with working parents.
The SBP also has financial benefits for schools and families. Schools receive cash reimbursements from the USDA for each meal served, with higher reimbursement rates for schools serving a higher proportion of free or reduced-price meals. This provides an incentive for schools to participate in the program and helps them offer meals at low or no cost to students. Families from low-income households benefit from reduced financial stress as they can access free or reduced-price meals for their children.
Furthermore, the SBP has been associated with improved academic performance and alertness in students. Studies have shown that students who eat a nutritious breakfast report feeling more positive and alert, which can enhance their learning experience and overall educational outcomes. The program ensures that students enter the classroom well-nourished and ready to learn, contributing to their growth and development.
The SBP has also been adapted to respond to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The USDA issued waivers and expanded the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) to ensure that eligible children continued to receive meals even during school closures. This demonstrated the program's ability to adapt and provide support to families during challenging times.
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Frequently asked questions
The School Breakfast Program (SBP) typically operates in about 90,000 public schools.
Public schools that choose to take part in the breakfast program receive cash subsidies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for each meal they serve. In return, they must serve breakfasts that meet federal requirements and offer free or reduced-price breakfasts to eligible children.
Any child at a participating school may purchase a meal through the SBP. Children from families with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130% and 185% of the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals.
The number of children participating in the SBP has grown over the years. In fiscal year 2001, an average of 7.8 million children participated every day, increasing to 8.2 million in fiscal year 2002. By fiscal year 2018, approximately 14.7 million students received free or reduced-price breakfasts.
