NC S855

Local school boards must provide breakfast at no cost to all students as part of their school nutrition services, with services to follow federal School Breakfast Program guidelines.

Department of Public Instruction shall allocate sufficient state funds to public schools for no-cost breakfast, which must supplement rather than replace federal funding.

Department must report annually to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by March 15 on the number of students receiving free breakfast, breakfasts served, and implementation costs.

Any surplus earnings from school food services can be used to reduce food costs, improve food quality, provide free or reduced-price lunches, or provide free breakfast to students.

$14,700,000 in recurring state funds are appropriated to the Department of Public Instruction for the 2022-2023 fiscal year to implement the free breakfast program, effective July 1, 2022.