WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 62
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Chapter 62
(Senate Bill 425)
AN ACT concerning
Maryland Meals for Achievement In –Classroom Breakfast Program –
Alterations
(Maryland Meals for Achievement Flexibility Act of 2024)
FOR the purpose of clarifying that secondary schools participating in the Maryland Meals
for Achievement In–Classroom Breakfast Program may serve breakfast in any
broadly accessible part of the school; authorizing elementary schools participating in
the Program, subject to certain approval and allowances, to serve breakfast in any
broadly accessible part of the school, including from “Grab and Go” carts; and
generally relating to the Maryland Meals for Achievement In–Classroom Breakfast
Program.
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – Education
Section 7–704
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Education
7–704.
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “Program” means the Maryland Meals for Achievement In–Classroom
Breakfast Program.
(3) “Secondary schools” includes middle schools and high schools.
(b) (1) There is a school breakfast program in the State, known as the
Maryland Meals for Achievement In–Classroom Breakfast Program.
(2) The Program is a joint effort of the Department and the county boards
or sponsoring agencies for eligible nonpublic schools.
(c) (1) The purpose of the Program is to provide funding for a school that
makes an in–classroom breakfast available to all students in the school.
Ch. 62 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(2) The funding is intended to complement the funding received by a school
from the federal government for a school breakfast program.
(d) The Department shall:
(1) Develop an application form for a school that desires to participate in
the Program;
(2) Ensure that the schools that participate in the Program represent
geographic and socioeconomic balance statewide;
(3) Subject to subsection (e) of this section, ensure that a school that
participates in the Program is a school at which at least 40% of the registered students are
eligible for the federal free or reduced price meal program;
(4) Select schools to participate in the Program, ensuring that an annual
evaluation of the Program is conducted by the Department;
(5) Annually review and set the meal reimbursement rate for schools that
participate in the Program to complement the federal meal reimbursement rate determined
under § 7–703 of this subtitle; and
(6) Disburse the Program funds to the county board or the sponsoring
agency.
(e) (1) If a school that participates in the Program has less than 40% of the
registered students eligible for the federal free or reduced price meal plan, the school shall
remain eligible to participate in the Program for 1 year.
(2) If, after 1 year, the school’s percent of registered students eligible for
the federal free or reduced price meal plan is less than 40%, the school is no longer eligible
to participate in the Program.
(f) A county board or a sponsoring agency for an eligible nonpublic school shall:
(1) Apply to the Department for funds for schools within the jurisdiction of
the board or for schools that are under the sponsoring agency that:
(i) Are eligible to participate in the Program; and
(ii) Apply to the board or to the sponsoring agency to participate in
the Program; and
(2) Submit an annual report to the Department on the Program, including
the manner in which the funds have been expended.
WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 62
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(g) A school that participates in the Program shall:
(1) Implement an in–classroom breakfast program in which all students in
the school may participate regardless of family income;
(2) Serve a breakfast that meets the guidelines of the Department and the
nutritional standards of the United States Department of Agriculture for schools that
participate in the federal school breakfast program;
(3) Except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, serve the breakfast
in the classroom after the arrival of students to the school;
(4) Collect the data that the county board or the sponsoring agency and the
Department require from participants in the Program; and
(5) Submit an annual report to the county board or the sponsoring agency.
(h) (1) Secondary schools may serve breakfast in any BROADLY ACCESSIBLE
part of the school, including from “Grab and Go” carts after the arrival of students to the
school.
(2) IF APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE AP PLICABLE
COUNTY BOARD , ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS M AY SERVE BREAKFAST I N ANY BROADLY
ACCESSIBLE PART OF T HE SCHOOL, INCLUDING FROM “GRAB AND GO” CARTS
AFTER THE ARRIVAL OF STUDENTS TO THE SCHO OL, PROVIDED THAT STUDENTS ARE
ALLOWED TO CONSUME T HE MEAL IN THE CLASS ROOM AFTER THE START OF THE
SCHOOL DAY.
(i) The employee organization that is the exclusive representative of the
certificated public school employees of a county board and the employee organization that
is the exclusive representative of the noncertificated employees of a county board and the
county board shall negotiate the terms of the participation of the employees in the Program.
(j) The Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of
$12,050,000 to the Program.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
1, 2024.
Approved by the Governor, April 9, 2024.