NJ S524

New Jersey public schools with 5% or more students eligible for free or reduced price meals must establish school breakfast programs, lowering the current threshold from 20%

Schools serving pre-K through 6th grade were required to submit breakfast program plans by November 1, 2022, with implementation by September 1, 2023; other schools had until September 1, 2024

School districts must submit breakfast program plans to the Department of Agriculture, which will review and provide recommendations within three months on operating within federal and state reimbursement rates

The Department of Agriculture may grant one-year waivers to schools lacking staff, facilities, equipment, or financing to implement the program, provided districts demonstrate steps to remove impediments

The State must annually appropriate funds to the Department of Agriculture to cover the state's share of costs for breakfast programs established under this law