Overview
In the most recent School Breakfast Expansion (SBE) Grant, the USDA awarded the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) $1,819,722 to subgrant to qualifying SFAs.
The objective of the FY2023 SBE grant was to improve the nutritional quality of school breakfast in Wisconsin. SFAs with qualifying schools received up to $20,000 over the span of two years to improve meal quality and support healthy and appealing breakfasts that met the current standards and supported stronger nutrition standards including reducing added sugar and sodium, increasing and promoting a variety of protein sources, whole grains, milk, fruits and vegetables. DPI awarded subgrants from all qualified applications by prioritizing schools with the greatest percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, so that schools could improve student access to nutritious breakfasts, thereby fostering better student health and education outcomes.
Grant activities are completed and the grant period ends September 30, 2025.
Outcomes
DPI awarded School Breakfast Expansion Grants to 111 SFAs with the goal of improving the nutritional quality of school breakfast foods served. Each SFA developed an individualized plan for improving nutrition. They participated in a variety of training opportunities, held kickoff events at the beginning of SY 2024-25 to promote their School Breakfast Program initiatives, and presented final grant outcomes to their fellow grantees. Project initiatives included serving more fresh fruit and vegetables, incorporating more local foods, decreasing the percentage of juice offered over the course of a 5-day school week, increasing speed-scratch and scratch cooking frequency, and increasing school community awareness regarding the nutritional quality of school breakfast meals.
Read more about the outcomes of this grant in the evaluation report and check out our new cookbook!