Definitions (a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) “Program” means the Maryland Meals for Achievement In-Classroom Breakfast Program. (3) “Secondary schools” includes middle schools and high schools.

Program a joint effort of Department and county boards or agencies (b)(1) There is a school breakfast program in the State, known as the Maryland Meals for Achievement In-Classroom Breakfast Program. (2) The Program is a joint effort of the Department and the county boards or sponsoring agencies for eligible nonpublic schools.

Purpose of Program (c)(1) The purpose of the Program is to provide funding for a school that makes an in-classroom breakfast available to all students in the school.

Duties of school that participates in Program (g) A school that participates in the Program shall:

• (1) Implement an in-classroom breakfast program in which all students in the school may participate regardless of family income;
• (2) Serve a breakfast that meets the guidelines of the Department and the nutritional Standard of the United States Department of Agriculture for schools that participate in the federal school breakfast program;
• (3) Except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, serve the breakfast in the classroom after the arrival of students to the school;
• (4) Collect the data that the county board or the sponsoring agency and the Department require from participants in the Program; and
• (5) Submit an annual report to the county board or the sponsoring agency.

Duties of school that participates in Program (g) A school that participates in the Program shall:

• (1) Implement an in-classroom breakfast program in which all students in the school may participate regardless of family income;
• (2) Serve a breakfast that meets the guidelines of the Department and the nutritional Standard of the United States Department of Agriculture for schools that participate in the federal school breakfast program;
• (3) Except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, serve the breakfast in the classroom after the arrival of students to the school;
• (4) Collect the data that the county board or the sponsoring agency and the Department require from participants in the Program; and
• (5) Submit an annual report to the county board or the sponsoring agency.

Duties of Department (d) The Department shall:

• (1) Develop an application form for a school that desires to participate in the Program
• (2) Ensure that the schools that participate in the Program represent geographic and socioeconomic balance statewide;
• (3) Subject to subsection (e) of this section, ensure that a school that participates in the Program is a school at which at least 40% of the registered students are eligible for the federal free or reduced price meal program;
• (4) Select schools to participate in the Program, ensuring that an annual evaluation of the Program is conducted by the Department;
• (5) Annually review and set the meal reimbursement rate for schools that participate in the Program to complement the federal meal reimbursement rate determined under § 7-703 of this subtitle; and
• (6) Disburse the Program funds to the county board or the sponsoring agency. School’s eligibility for the federal free or reduced price meal plan

(e)

• (1) If a school that participates in the Program has less than 40% of the registered students eligible for the federal free or reduced price meal plan, the school shall remain eligible to participate in the Program for 1 year.
• (2) If, after 1 year, the school's percent of registered students eligible for the federal free or reduced price meal plan is less than 40%, the school is no longer eligible to participate in the Program. Duties of county board or sponsoring agency

(f) A county board or a sponsoring agency for an eligible nonpublic school shall:

• (1) Apply to the Department for funds for schools within the jurisdiction of the board or for schools that are under the sponsoring agency that:
• (I) Are eligible to participate in the Program; and(ii) Apply to the board or to the sponsoring agency to participate in the Program; and
• (2) Submit an annual report to the Department on the Program, including the manner in which the funds have been expended. Duties of school that participates in Program

(g) A school that participates in the Program shall:

• (1) Implement an in-classroom breakfast program in which all students in the school may participate regardless of family income;
• (2) Serve a breakfast that meets the guidelines of the Department and the nutritional Standard of the United States Department of Agriculture for schools that participate in the federal school breakfast program;
• (3) Except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, serve the breakfast in the classroom after the arrival of students to the school;
• (4) Collect the data that the county board or the sponsoring agency and the Department require from participants in the Program; and(5) Submit an annual report to the county board or the sponsoring agency