Breakfast in the Classroom

What is Breakfast in the Classroom?

Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) is a Breakfast After the Bell program. BIC is part of the School Breakfast Program, which is a federally funded program that assists schools and other agencies in providing nutritious breakfast to children at reasonable prices. In California, the program is administered by the California Department of Education.

Studies have shown that students who eat breakfast are more focused, score significantly higher on tests, miss less days of school, and increase fewer discipline problems. School breakfast provides the consistent nutrition kids need to learn, grow and reach their full potential.

BIC was initiated in OUSD because we know that eating breakfast has a powerful effect on students, and that no student should start the day on an empty stomach!

What should teachers know for BIC?

Teachers play a central role in the Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) model and we understand it can be challenging to know where to start. See below for a how-to guide for BIC:

1. Breakfast will be delivered to classrooms or should be picked up in the morning at a predetermined location. 
2. Red and Blue BIC bags should always include a BIC meal count form, breakfast entrees, fruit—fresh and dried, as well as milk. 
3. Students must take a complete meal in order to be compliant with USDA regulations.
4. As students are eating, teachers can:
   • take attendance
   • collect homework
   • have quiet reading time
   • make announcements
   • etc.
5. Make sure to fill out the Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) meal count form with the number of students who ate breakfast that day.
6. Clean-up: There should be brown paper bags in your BIC bags that can be used for any trash produced OR your school may have designated trash cans stationed in the hallway for breakfast.