FAQs and Research

The National School Breakfast Program is a federally funded program, just like school lunch, overseen by the USDA.

Breakfast After the Bell (BAB) is a way to serve breakfast after the start of the school day, ensuring more students can participate.

Common BAB models include:

• Breakfast in the Classroom - Meals are delivered to classrooms and eaten during the first minutes of class.
• Grab & Go - Students pick up breakfast on their way to class.
• Second Chance Breakfast - Students grab breakfast later in the morning, between classes.

Washington State Law required schools to make BAB available for all students and give them enough time o eat without being penalized for being late.

Thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), all Othello students can enjoy one free breakfast each school day.

Every single student - no matter their grade or household income - can participate in BAB.

No. BAB operates like the lunch program, with costs reimbursed by the federal government.

• Hungry children struggle to focus and learn.
• Students who eat breakfast have better attendance, higher grades, and are more likely to graduate.
• BAB removes barriers like early bus schedules, morning rushes, or the stigma of "school breakfast".
• It helps ensure all students -- regardless of circumstances -- start their day ready to learn.

• Breakfast in the Classroom - Served right in class after the bell during morning routines.
• Second Chance Breakfast - Picked up from designated areas and eaten later in the morning.

Meals are quick to serve, easy to clean up, and designed not to disrupt learning time. 

Cleanup is simple and part of the routine:

• Students throw away trash in designated bins.
• Desks are wiped down, and hands are cleaned.
• Custodians collect waste from central locations to keep classrooms tidy.