Breakfast and Summer Program Grant Scoring

Application Scoring Criteria

Grant Period: July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027

Total Points: 100

Summary of the 100 Point Scoring Criteria

Using the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and Summer Meal Programs (SMP) Grant Application Scoring Worksheet, Nutrition Services Division (NSD) staff will score applications from school food authorities (SFA) based on the following areas:

1. An explanation of any public or private funding that the SFA has received for starting or expanding an SBP or SMP. This can include funding from an outside source such as a private citizen, local health department, community organization, etc. Please indicate if no outside funding has been collected (up to 5 points).
   
   
2. An explanation of the technical assistance (TA) or funding, beyond normal operating support, that the SFA will provide to the site(s). The California Department of Education (CDE) does not consider financial support from the cafeteria fund to be special funding. However, financial support from the SFA’s General Fund is considered to be special funding. For example, the CDE will not award points for a description stating that the SFA will use its information technology staff to wire or program computers or to pay custodians to clean the classrooms, etc. However, the CDE will award points if the SFA proposes to provide Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) training to its teachers. Please indicate if the SFA will not provide additional TA or funding (up to 5 points).
   
   
3. A detailed explanation that describes the existing barriers that hinder the SFA’s ability to provide breakfast or summer meals, restrict the SFA’s ability to operate the SBP or SMP, or decrease children’s ability or desire to participate in the SBP or SMP. Describe the innovative measures designed to maximize participation in these programs. Examples of barriers could be early or late bus schedules, meal time constraints, student and staff attitudes toward the SBP or SMP, lack of updated equipment, difficulty in reaching Transitional Kindergarten/Pre-Kindergarten (TK/PreK) students. In addition, barriers may include the lack of adequate equipment to support non-congregate feeding when congregate meal service operations are limited due to natural disasters, unscheduled major building repairs, court orders relating to school safety or other issues, labor-management disputes, or other similar causes. Please note that a pre-approved waiver must be in place before non-congregate feeding is allowed (up to 10 points).
   
   
4. Identification of innovative strategies designed to maximize participation. Examples of innovative strategies in the SBP include Breakfast on the Bus, Grab-and-Go Breakfast, and Breakfast After the Bell service models like BIC and Second Chance Breakfast, offering family style breakfast for TK/PreK students, and partnering with expanded learning programs to increase participation in breakfast and summer meal options (up to 30 points).
   
   Note: Please be assured that SFAs can provide students with BIC while appropriate educational activities are taking place without concern regarding an instructional minutes audit exception. Furthermore, teachers' breakfast meals can be an allowable cafeteria fund cost if SFAs have a written policy that designates positions for this benefit. BIC is a strategy that supports the State Superintendent's Moving the Needle Initiative and provides the opportunity for food and nutrition literacy.
   
   Examples of innovative strategies in the SMPs include hosting a summer meals kick-off event, planning a farm-to-summer event using local produce and including a nutrition education lesson, hosting barbecues, providing culturally relevant and diverse meal options, and planning special activities during meal service to increase nutrition literacy. Be sure to include any activities that your agency will offer such as baseball, crafts, etc. Giveaways and contests are not considered innovative; however, a marketing plan designed to increase participation would be considered innovative.
   
   
5. Budgets that identify equipment purchases, site outreach, promotional items and activities, and training (if applicable). The proposed budget should include a detailed description of how the expenses will support the program, as well as how innovation will be used to enhance the program and overcome the barriers to student participation in the SBP or SMPs (up to 20 points). SFAs can request the following:
   
   
   1. Equipment: Be specific and reflect quantities for each item. For example, use descriptions like an insulated utility cart versus a cart, or three-door refrigerator versus refrigerator. A detailed description also includes a justification of how the item will be used and how the item supports start-up, expansion efforts, or meal service during disaster. Address what barriers to participation the expenditure will resolve. If the equipment costs more than $1,000, include the name of the vendor that provided the price quote and how the equipment will promote innovation.
      
      
   2. Outreach and Promotion: List each item that your SFA plans to purchase. The CDE suggests that SFAs estimate the number of times they plan to distribute letters, flyers, and other sources of outreach during the entire grant period; recurring costs cannot be billed more than once per year. The SFA should then request the amount needed for costs associated with ongoing outreach and promotional activities for the year. The SFA should include how they will provide outreach and promotion in multiple languages relevant to their enrollment, and target outreach and promotion to TK/PreK students. Some expenses—such as food, staff salaries, clothing, and giveaways—are not allowable costs under this grant.
      
      
   3. Training: Include any allowable training expenses. Training on customer service, implementing culturally relevant menus, innovative breakfast models like BIC, Second Chance Breakfast, and meal service during disaster are allowable. Travel-related expenses for vendors and staff are not allowable. Some training expenses such as salaries and benefits, conference and membership fees, and subscriptions are not allowable costs under this grant.

Please be specific in your budget justifications. The CDE will deduct points if the SFA is not clear regarding how the expenditures will support or increase participation in either the SBP or SMP.

While the following criteria are not required, the NSD will award additional points if the site:

1. Implements a new SBP or SMP (15 points)
2. Has 50–100 percent free or reduced-price student eligibility (10 points)
3. Agrees to operate the SBP or SMP for no less than three years (5 points)