East Valley schools will participate in the "Breakfast After the Bell" (BAB) program, in addition to the traditional breakfast offerings. BAB allows all students to pick up breakfast from the meal service line for an additional 10 minutes after the morning bell rings, and they can eat it in their classroom while engaging in instructional activities. BAB must be available to both early and late arrivals.

 

The BAB program is part of the Washington Kids Ready to Learn Act of 2018, which mandates that schools with at least 70% of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals offer breakfast after the start of the school day.

 

The goal is to increase school breakfast participation and ensure all students have access to a morning meal.

 

Key rules include encouraging all students, regardless of their arrival time, to participate in BAB. Students can only receive one breakfast per day, and the program must be accessible to both early and late arrivals.