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.

Access our One Pagers & Resources for BIC! 

BIC Back-to-School Teacher Training

BIC One-Pager for Teachers  

BIC Waste Procedures One-Pager

Sample Schedule for BIC (it may differ slightly based on school site):

1. Breakfast Delivery: Breakfast will be delivered to classrooms or should be picked up in the morning at a predetermined location. 
2. Thermal Bag Content: Red and Blue BIC bags should always include a BIC meal count form, breakfast entrees, fruit (fresh and dried), milk, utensils, pink towels, and a milk jug.  
3. Compliant Meals: Students must take a complete meal in order to be compliant with USDA regulations. Options for a complete meal include:
   • One Entree + One Fruit 
   • Two Fruit + One Milk
   • Fruit is always required for any complete meal. Students can take up to one entree, two fruit, and one milk. 
4. Instructional Time: As students are eating, teachers can:
   • take attendance
   • collect homework
   • have quiet reading time
   • make announcements
   • etc.
5. Meal Counting: Make sure to fill out the Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) monthly meal count form with the number of students who took a complete meal that morning. 
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. If there are any uneaten items from a student's complete meal, they can put it in the classroom share basket for other students. 
7. Bag Return: Thermal bags should be returned to the cafeteria or placed back at the predetermined location for pick-up.

Student Roles & Responsibilities for BIC

We recommend students in 3rd grade and up take on additional classroom responsibilities during BIC! Share this presentation with your students for potential student leadership opportunities. (Last Updated 9/3/25)

Student Roles & Responsibilities during BIC