BALTIMORE – The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has awarded $7.55 million in State funds to 485 schools selected to participate in Maryland Meals for Achievement (MMFA), an alternative breakfast delivery program that provides students with free, in-classroom breakfast.

The funds supplement the federal reimbursement that schools receive through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s School Breakfast Program. In School Year 2018-2019, 258,984 Maryland students will benefit from this program. Of the 485 schools participating, 26 schools will be participating for the first time due to an additional $650,000 provided by Governor Hogan in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget.

Schools are selected annually by MSDE based on eligibility criteria, previous participation, preferences of the school districts, and the amount of State funds available. Maryland law also requires the selection of schools to represent geographic and socio-economic balance.

Alternative breakfast delivery models, such as the MMFA, increase students’ access to a healthful morning meal. Additionally, recent legislation allows participating middle and high schools to serve breakfast in the school building through Grab and Go kiosks while still requiring students to consume the meal in the classroom.

School administrators credit the MMFA with improving student test scores, behavior, attendance, and well-being. Parents praise the program for assisting children to prepare for their academic day.

Participating Dorchester schools are:

• Choptank Elementary

• North Dorchester Middle

• Hurlock Elementary

• Sandy Hill Elementary

• Mace’s Lane Middle

• South Dorchester School

• Maple Elementary

• Vienna Elementary