Pupil nutrition: federal School Breakfast Program participation.

Existing law requires each school district or county superintendent of schools maintaining any kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, to provide for each needy pupil one nutritionally adequate free or reduced-price meal during each schoolday. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that the federal School Breakfast Program be made available in all schools where it is needed to provide adequate nutrition for children in attendance. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to, in cooperation with school districts and county superintendents of schools, provide information and limited financial assistance to encourage school breakfast program startup and expansion into all qualified schools. Existing law encourages school districts and charter schools that do not operate school breakfast programs to apply for funding to establish breakfast programs using funds appropriated for this purpose in the annual Budget Act. This bill would state findings and declarations regarding the importance of breakfast to the achievement of pupils. This bill would require school districts that elect to apply for funds under specified categorical programs to, in the process of the school district governing board approving the required application, use data required in the application, specifically, the number of pupils eligible for free and reduced-price meals, to assess and discuss, in a regularly scheduled public school district governing board meeting to review and consider approval of the required application, access to the federal School Breakfast Program and participation in the federal School Breakfast Program, as specified. The bill would require school districts that apply for those funds to include specified information in the application relating to school participation in the federal School Breakfast Program. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2017, or upon the occurrence of a specified event, whichever is later.