2025-26 School Breakfast Program and Summer Meals Start-Up and Expansion Grants

The 2025-26 School Breakfast Program (SBP) and Summer Meal Programs (SMP) Grants are designed to support nonrecurring costs associated with the initiation or expansion of programs that provide meals to children. These grants target either school breakfast programs serving students from transitional kindergarten to grade 12 or summer meal programs serving youth aged 18 and under during school breaks. Eligible applicants include school districts, direct-funded charter schools, and county offices of education. However, only one type of grant may be awarded per school site. Private schools, residential childcare institutions, and juvenile detention centers are not eligible for these grants. The purpose of these grants is to increase access to nutritious meals for children and students through new or expanded meal programs. They aim to improve health outcomes and educational performance by addressing food insecurity during the school year and summer months. By funding program initiation or expansion, the grants help ensure that students have consistent access to meals. Funding provided through these grants must be used for one-time costs, such as equipment purchases, infrastructure improvements, or other expenditures necessary to establish or grow the programs. Operational costs, staff salaries, or ongoing expenses are not covered by this funding. Applicants are required to submit a detailed budget sheet using the provided template to outline the proposed use of funds. Eligible applicants must demonstrate compliance with the grant's "good standing" criteria as defined by the California Department of Education (CDE). This includes maintaining proper documentation and adherence to applicable regulations. Submission is restricted to online applications, and applicants must also comply with general assurances and certifications as part of the grant process. The application process involves completing the online form, submitting the budget sheet, and adhering to the scoring criteria provided in the request for applications (RFA). Evaluation will consider factors such as the project's alignment with program goals, readiness to implement, and anticipated impact on meal accessibility. Instructions, scoring criteria, and appeal procedures are available for review. Applications must be submitted by Monday, March 3, 2025, to be considered. Questions related to the program or the application process can be directed to the School Breakfast Grant Team via email at breakfastgrant@cde.ca.gov. Detailed instructions, forms, and resources, including the budget sheet template and scoring criteria, are accessible through the CDE's Nutrition Services Division. The final grant awards will be subject to compliance reviews and potential audits. Applicants are encouraged to review all related documentation thoroughly and keep required assurances on file. Further information, including updates on funding decisions and application results, is available on the CDE's website.