Noah Wortham/Shelby County Reporter
ALABASTER – Students who want to enjoy breakfast now don’t have to spend a dime thanks to Alabaster City Schools' free breakfast program. Alabaster City Schools has been awarded $391,445.50 in Alabama School Breakfast Grants, which allow students in the district to enjoy free breakfast at no cost thanks to the Universal Breakfast program.
“By expanding access to free breakfast, Alabaster City Schools is reinforcing its commitment to student wellness and academic achievement, ensuring every student has the opportunity for a strong start and a strong finish each school day,” an official release from Alabaster City Schools said.
The program kicked off on May 1 and will continue throughout the 2026-2027 school year, giving all ACS students, regardless of income, access to a nutritious morning meal. Students can eat breakfast at their assigned school as during the regularly scheduled school year. Menus are posted each week on the ACS app or website, available at Alabastercsdal.sites.thrillshare.com/page/child-nutrition.
According to ACS district leaders, “the expansion of free breakfast is an important step in supporting student success both inside and outside the classroom.” Access to nutritious meals has been linked to improved classroom outcomes, including better focus, behavior, academic performance, reading and math scores, healthier lifestyles, and reduced absenteeism.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the purpose of funding for the Universal Breakfast program is to offset the financial burden on schools of serving breakfast to students, ensure students have access to nutritious morning meals, and promote student well-being.
The free breakfast program also ties into the Alabama Farm to School program, which allows local farmers to sell directly to schools in hopes of providing students with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Thanks to the Universal Breakfast program, since 2019, access to the breakfast meals has doubled statewide with more than 45 million breakfasts served annually.
“These programs play a critical role in promoting student well-being and creating a strong foundation for learning each day,” read the release by Alabaster City Schools.