School Breakfast is healthy, convenient, and affordable. The benefits of breakfast include improved academic performance, attention span, and behavior. Students who eat breakfast have fewer missed school days and fewer visits to the nurse. The School Breakfast Program provides students up to the age of 21, who are enrolled in public and private nonprofit schools and residential childcare institutions with the fuel they need to be full, focused, and ready to learn.
The SBP is a federally funded meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions. It is administered at the federal level by the USDA and at the state level by the Maine Department of Education, Child Nutrition.
If you have questions regarding the School Breakfast Program, please contact a member of the Child Nutrition staff.
Breakfast After the Bell
Breakfast After the Bell Planning Checklist
Breakfast After the Bell Questions and Answers
Breakfast in the Classroom Guidance
Opt Out Guidance for Breakfast After the Bell
SY26 Breakfast After the Bell Required Schools
Types of Alternative Breakfast Models
Operations & Guidance
Pricing
- A public school serving breakfast shall provide all students eligible for free and reduced-price meals under a meal that meets the requirements at no cost to the student. The State shall provide funding equal to the difference between the federal reimbursement for a free breakfast and the federal reimbursement for a reduced-price breakfast for each student.
- Private schools cannot charge more than $.30 for reduced-price breakfast
- Federal SBP Regulations link to USDA
Meal Pattern Resources & Training
- Breakfast Meal Pattern
- Breakfast Meal Pattern Quick Guide
- Breakfast Meal or No Meal Training
- Breakfast Menu Planning Tool
- Breakfast Production Record K-12
- Offer vs Serve at Breakfast Resource
- Reimbursable Breakfast Signage Sample 1 - Required for all serving locations
- Reimbursable Breakfast Signage
Marketing
- SBP Toolkit link to USDA