Practical Strategies to Maximize Your NSLP Funding | Part 1: Increase Breakfast Participation

Through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), charter schools can tap into federal funding to provide healthy meals for students.  However, schools may struggle to optimize their meal programs, leading to untapped funding and waste.  

By making strategic adjustments, administrators and nutrition program coordinators can improve meal participation, streamline vendor selection, reduce food waste, enhance operational efficiency, and explore additional revenue opportunities.  

This blog series will outline several practical strategies to help schools make the most out of their programs while ensuring students receive high-quality, nutritious meals.  First up is how to boost your budget by increasing breakfast participation!

Increase Breakfast Participation & Boost Your Budget

Increasing participation in school breakfast programs is a great way to increase federal reimbursements while ensuring more students start the day with a nutritious meal and are ready to learn. Traditionally, schools serve breakfast in the cafeteria before the bell, making it difficult for students who can’t get there in time to sit and eat. By expanding breakfast access, schools can better serve students while generating thousands in additional funding annually. 

The chart below illustrates how increasing breakfast participation by just 25 students will boost your annual revenue by $11,400.

If your school has struggled to encourage students to eat breakfast, consider implementing the following alternative breakfast models to boost participation and funding: 

Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC):  Students or staff deliver breakfast directly to classrooms in insulated coolers or bags. Schools that utilize BIC have an average breakfast participation rate of 88%!* 

Grab & Go Breakfast: Students pick up breakfast from high-traffic areas such as a hallway or entryway and eat in a common area or classroom. The grab & go model provides greater accessibility, and schools that implement it have an average breakfast participation of 59%.* 

Second Chance Breakfast: Offers a later breakfast period during a break in the morning, either in the cafeteria or using grab & go, to encourage students who like to socialize to participate.  

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Our team of NSLP experts can help you to optimize your school’s program. We work with schools to manage program administration, select vendors, prepare for onsite reviews, and maximize funding. We also offer a free NSLP assessment.  Reach out to us today to share more about your school’s needs and learn how we can support!