HB 255 Summary

• Requires school districts to establish breakfast programs in schools declared to be in academic emergency under section 3302.03 of the Revised Code, in addition to schools where at least one-fifth of pupils are eligible for free breakfasts.

• Requires district boards to include implementation of breakfast programs in improvement plans for academically emergency schools and incorporate best practices for school breakfast programs.

• Requires district boards that cannot comply for financial reasons to develop a financial viability plan enabling compliance within two years.

• Applies the same breakfast program requirements to community schools, including schools in academic emergency status, with identical financial hardship provisions and financial viability plan requirements.

• Allows schools to offer classroom breakfast during the school day and requires free breakfast for pupils eligible for reduced price breakfast when state appropriations are available.