§1793 Grants for Expansion of School Breakfast Programs

Summary

Creates a federal grant program, when Congress provides money for it, to help schools in severe need (called "qualifying schools" under section 1773(d)(1)) start, keep, or grow school breakfast programs. The federal Secretary must run a competitive process and give grants to State educational agencies, which then give subgrants to local school districts for qualifying schools. Total grant money the Secretary gives to states in a year cannot be more than $2,000,000 or the number of qualifying schools getting subgrants multiplied by the maximum subgrant amount, whichever is less. States must have schools apply and give priority to districts where at least 75% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Each school’s subgrant cannot be more than $10,000 per school year and may be provided for no more than 2 fiscal years. Funds can pay to set up, promote, expand, or extend breakfast service (including nutrition education), offer breakfast during the school day, or for other appropriate uses the Secretary allows, and must follow federal nutrition rules. The Secretary must share best-practice ideas before awards, and states should prefer schools that use those methods. Grants must not reduce state or local spending on school breakfast. The Secretary must report to Congress within 18 months after a school year with awarded subgrants, and districts must, 180 days before a grant ends, check if switching to universal free breakfasts under Provision 2 would save money and tell the state the results. The program was authorized to receive needed funds for fiscal years 2010 through 2015.