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THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

Office of P-20 Education Policy
Child Nutrition Program Administration
89 Washington Avenue, Room 375 EBA, Albany, NY 12234
Phone: (518) 473-8781 Fax: (518) 473-0018
To: 
School Food Service Directors/Managers
From: 
Child Nutrition Program Administration
Date: 
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Subject: 
Breakfast After the Bell in School Year 2025-2026

All public elementary or secondary schools with at least seventy percent or more of its students eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the federal National School Lunch Program are required to offer all students a school breakfast after the instructional day has begun, “Breakfast After the Bell”. The schools meeting 70 percent free and reduced price is determined annually by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) based upon data submitted through the basic educational data system (BEDS) for the prior school year.

The list of schools required to offer Breakfast After the Bell in the 2025-2026 school year can be found in Excel or PDF.

Each public school required to implement Breakfast After the Bell will determine the breakfast service delivery model that best suits its students.  Service delivery models may include, but are not limited to, breakfast in the classroom, grab and go breakfast, and second chance breakfast, which would include breakfast served in the cafeteria.  Time spent by students consuming breakfast may be considered instructional time when instruction is being provided while students are consuming breakfast.  In determining a service delivery model, schools will consult with teachers, parents, students and members of the community.

Schools subject to this requirement are required to notify students, parents and guardians that the school will be offering breakfast to all students after the instructional day has begun.

Schools may apply annually for a waiver from providing Breakfast After the Bell by demonstrating:

  1. A lack of need for Breakfast After the Bell because of a successful existing breakfast program; or
  2. The implementation of Breakfast After the Bell would cause economic hardship for the school.

Complete the request form found here to request a waiver for the 2025-2026 school year.

All schools participating in the School Breakfast Program will be required to provide information on breakfast service delivery methods, by site, during the Child Nutrition Program Annual Renewal Process as this information will be used to publish a report at the conclusion of each school year.

Please contact your Child Nutrition Program representative if you have any questions.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

  1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
  2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
  3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

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