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

The School Breakfast Program (SBP) and Summer Meal Programs (SMP) Start-up and Expansion Grants are competitive state grants administered by the California Department of Education (CDE). These grants are intended to support the launch or growth of nutrition programs that serve students throughout California. With annual appropriations totaling approximately $1.017 million from the California State Legislature, the grant program was established under California Education Code Section 49550.3 and is managed by the CDE’s Nutrition Services Division. These grants enable school food authorities (SFAs) to enhance access to nutritious meals for children by funding nonrecurring expenses required to initiate or expand SBP or SMP services. The program offers two main grant types: start-up grants for SFAs aiming to begin a new SBP or SMP site, and expansion grants for those looking to increase participation at an existing site. SFAs are permitted to apply for up to ten sites, with each site eligible for a maximum of $15,000. These funds may be used to purchase equipment, support promotional activities, and implement innovative service models, such as Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab-and-Go Breakfast, or culturally relevant meal options. SFAs must be approved participants of the SBP or SMP and possess a vendor number on file with the California State Controller’s Office to qualify for funding. Applications from private schools, residential childcare institutions, and juvenile detention centers are not eligible. To qualify, SBP applicants must serve student populations where at least 20% are approved for free or reduced-price meals, while SMP applicants must meet all eligibility requirements under the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Additional restrictions include a limitation on excess net cash resources, as SFAs must not exceed three months’ average expenditures in their food service accounts. The CDE reserves the right to adjust or deny funding if these or other conditions are unmet, including the requirement that an SFA may not receive a grant for the same site more than once every three years. The application process is competitive, with a maximum score of 100 points based on a comprehensive scoring rubric. The evaluation considers the applicant’s budget detail, identification of barriers to participation, innovation in program delivery, use of prior or supplemental funding, and willingness to operate the program for at least three years. Extra points are available for new program implementations, high free/reduced-price eligibility, and multi-year operation commitments. Applicants are required to submit specific equipment descriptions and justifications aligned with their proposed program model, and funds must be used during the designated award period. Applications must be submitted online and are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, February 13, 2026. The application portal is accessible through the CDE’s School Breakfast and Summer Meal Grants webpage. SFAs receiving awards must sign the original Grant Award Notification (GAN), which includes the signature of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, to receive funding. The CDE will issue 90% of the grant upon award, with the remaining 10% released upon approval of final invoices. Incomplete invoicing or unapproved budget changes may result in withheld or reclaimed funds. Appeals may be submitted through the CDE’s established grant appeal process. For questions regarding this funding opportunity, applicants are advised to contact the Breakfast Grant team at [email protected]. Additional updates, including notifications of grant availability, are communicated through the CDE’s Nutrition Services Division channels, including Listserv announcements and the Available Funding webpage. The last update for this opportunity was posted on January 8, 2026.

Ensure that equipment requests match innovative program strategies described in the narrative. The CDE deducts points for mismatches or vague justifications.