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Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant

Today’s Date: August 17, 2026�Grant Due Date: October 1, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. MT �Jacklyn Thompson, Healthy Schools Program Coordinator�Thompson_J@cde.state.co.us

Hello, and welcome to the application webinar for the Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant. My name is Jacklyn Thompson, and I coordinate the Healthy Schools Program at the Colorado Department of Education.

This grant is designed to help Colorado local education providers work alongside students to create authentic messages about school breakfast. During this webinar, I will explain the purpose of the opportunity, who may apply, what the funding can support, the project expectations, and how applications will be scored.

Applications are due in GAINS on Thursday, October 1, 2026, by 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Please use the grant document as the official source for all requirements. If questions remain after the webinar, my contact information is shown here.

[Sources]

- Colorado Department of Education, Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant funding opportunity, 2026-2027.

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Opportunity at a Glance

Only 43% of Colorado middle school students and 31% of high school students reported eating breakfast daily; about a 10-point decline over the past decade.
Purpose: Increase awareness of and participation in school breakfast through authentic, student co-led communications
Funding

Six to eight awards; up to $2,000 each;
Approximately $12,000–$16,000 total;
Funds expended by April 30, 2027

Timeline

Application opens: August 17, 2026
Application due: October 1 at 4:00 p.m. MT

Submission through GAINS only
Required Authorized Representative and Fiscal Manager approvals
Award notification by October 23

Let’s begin with the opportunity at a glance.

Breakfast supports learning, attendance, physical health, and overall well-being. However, the 2025 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey found that only 43 percent of middle school students and 31 percent of high school students reported eating breakfast every day. Both figures reflect an approximately ten-percentage-point decline over the past decade.

This grant responds to that need by supporting authentic, student co-led communication about the availability and benefits of school breakfast. CDE expects to award approximately six to eight grants of up to two thousand dollars each.

The application is open in GAINS from August 17 through October 1. Applicants should allow enough time to obtain the required Authorized Representative and Fiscal Manager approvals before the 4:00 p.m. deadline. Award notifications are expected by October 23.

[Sources]

- Colorado Department of Education, Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant funding opportunity, 2026-2027.

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Students Create the Message

Project Options

15 to 30 second social media video
Student-designed poster
Digital signage, graphics, or another similar product

Each funded applicant will create one school breakfast awareness product in partnership with students.

The product may be a short social media video of approximately 15 to 30 seconds, a student-designed poster, digital signage or graphics, or another similar awareness product. Applicants do not need to have every creative detail decided before applying. An initial concept is helpful, but it is acceptable for students to make the final product decision after the project begins.

The important point is that the finished material should feel relevant and credible to students because students helped shape it. CDE may collect and share completed materials so that school communities across Colorado can adapt and use them.

Next, let’s clarify what we mean by meaningful youth engagement.

[Sources]

- Colorado Department of Education, Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant funding opportunity, 2026-2027.

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Youth Engagement

A youth-adult partnership is a collaborative and equitable relationship between young individuals (youth) and adults.

This partnership involves working together, sharing responsibilities, and making decisions collectively to address issues, create positive change, and achieve common goals within various settings such as schools, organizations, communities, and programs.

A youth-adult partnership is more than asking students to react to a product adults have already created. It is a collaborative and equitable relationship in which young people and adults share ideas, responsibilities, and decisions.

For this project, students should be involved throughout the process—from identifying what their peers need to hear, through developing the concept and message, to reviewing and completing the final product. Adults provide structure, access, technical support, and guidance, while making space for students to exercise real influence.

In the application, describe the student group that will participate and give concrete examples of how students will act as partners. Prior experience with youth-adult partnership is not required. Reviewers are looking for a thoughtful and feasible approach.

[Sources]

- Colorado Department of Education, Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant funding opportunity, 2026-2027.

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Who Should Apply?

Eligible Local Education Providers (LEPs) include:

School Districts,
BOCES,
District-Authorized Charter Schools
CSI-Authorized Charter Schools

Each LEP may only submit one application. Applicants are encouraged to coordinate internally before applying.

Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate:

High need
Readiness

An identified adult lead and student group
Meaningful student partnership

Middle/high school focus

Eligible applicants are Colorado local education providers. This includes school districts, BOCES, district-authorized charter schools, and Charter School Institute-authorized charter schools.

Each LEP may submit only one application, so applicants should coordinate internally before applying. Individual non-charter schools cannot apply on their own; an application must be authorized and submitted through the eligible LEP. Charter applicants should also review the specific coordination and fiscal-agent requirements in the grant document.

Among eligible applications, priority will be given to projects that demonstrate high need, readiness to begin, an identified adult lead and student group, meaningful student partnership, and a focus on middle or high school students. CDE may also consider geographic distribution and representation from different Colorado school and community contexts.

[Sources]

- Colorado Department of Education, Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant funding opportunity, 2026-2027.

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Use the Funding to Produce and Promote the Work

Grant funds can support

Media production and printing
Basic equipment
Design/editing software
Student wages or incentives

in accordance with established district policy

Relevant training for students and/or adult leads
Limited personnel costs for adult leads
Pre-approved, limited food costs

Grant funds cannot support

Swag or giveaways
Ongoing staff positions
Unrelated expenses
Unrelated equipment
Indirect costs or overhead
Supplanting existing funds
Alcoholic beverages

Grant funds must be directly connected to developing and promoting the student-designed awareness product.

Allowable expenses may include media production and printing, basic technology or equipment needed for development, design or editing software, student wages or incentives that comply with local policy, relevant training, limited personnel costs for the adult lead, and limited food costs when needed for a project meeting. Food costs require advance CDE approval.

Funds may not support promotional giveaways, ongoing staff positions, unrelated equipment, indirect costs or administrative overhead, alcohol, unrelated expenses, or costs already supported by existing funding. All costs must be reasonable, necessary, and consistent with applicable procurement and compensation policies.

When developing the budget, connect every line item to a specific project activity.

[Sources]

- Colorado Department of Education, Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant funding opportunity, 2026-2027.

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Build the Right Team Before Applying

Before applying, identify and discuss the opportunity with:

Adult lead(s)
Student group(s)
District Nutrition Services
District Communications
Out-of-School-Time and other community partners

A strong project starts with the right team and early coordination.

Before applying, identify the adult who will lead the project and the student group that will participate. The adult lead will coordinate activities, support student engagement, serve as the primary contact, and attend the required cohort meetings.

Applicants should also involve nutrition services and district or school communications staff early. Nutrition staff can ensure the message accurately reflects the breakfast program, while communications staff can assist with branding, media requirements, promotion, and distribution. Out-of-school-time programs and community organizations may also participate when they strengthen student engagement or product development.

The application should make the roles of these partners clear while keeping students at the center of the work.

[Sources]

- Colorado Department of Education, Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant funding opportunity, 2026-2027.

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Plan Now for the Full Project Commitment

Month/Date	Activity/Milestone
October 2026	Start within 1 to 2 weeks of award
November 2026 - March 2027	Attend a total of five 60-minute virtual cohort meetings, one each month
February 23, 2027	Final product due
March 1 - 5, 2027	National School Breakfast Week
April 30, 2027	Funds must be spent
June 30, 2027	Program Report due
September 30, 2027	Financial Report due

This timeline shows the full project commitment.

After award notification, grantees should be ready to begin within approximately one to two weeks. From November through March, the adult lead must participate in five monthly 60-minute virtual cohort meetings. Students are encouraged to attend when feasible.

Final awareness materials are due to CDE by February 23, 2027. This allows selected materials to be shared during National School Breakfast Week, March 1 through 5. Grant funds must be spent by April 30, with no carryover. The brief program report is due June 30, and the final fiscal report is due September 30.

Applicants should use these dates to create a realistic timeline that identifies what students will do, what adults will do, and what they will accomplish together.

[Sources]

- Colorado Department of Education, Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant funding opportunity, 2026-2027.

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CDE Support

Dedicated CDE contact; thompson_j@cde.state.co.us
Youth-engagement resources
Templates, examples, and material-development guidance
Monthly peer cohort meetings
Coaching and technical assistance upon request
Promotion through CDE channels

CDE will provide support throughout the project; grantees are not expected to navigate the work alone.

Each grantee will have access to a CDE point of contact, youth-engagement resources, and—where available—templates, examples, and material-development guidance. The monthly cohort meetings will create space to share progress, troubleshoot challenges, and learn from other participating communities.

Coaching and technical assistance will also be available upon request. In addition, selected products may be featured through CDE communication channels, including social media.

Applicants do not need to be professional designers or media producers. We are looking for an achievable process that elevates student voice and results in a useful, authentic product.

[Sources]

- Colorado Department of Education, Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant funding opportunity, 2026-2027.

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Application Scoring Rubric

Section A: Context and Need, 3 points:

Clearly explain the community and use relevant aggregate data.

Section B: Program Description, 6 points:

Present a feasible, student-centered plan with clear roles and partnerships.

Section C: Goals and Outcomes, 6 points:

Define success for students and the product, including how feedback will be gathered.

Timeline, 3 points:

Show realistic activities and distinct student, adult, and shared roles.

Note: Sections A through C are limited to 350 words each.

Applications will be scored across four sections for a total of 18 possible points.

Context and Need is worth three points. A strong response clearly describes the school community and connects relevant aggregate data or observations to the need for the project.

Program Description and Goals and Outcomes are each worth six points, so together they account for two-thirds of the total score. The strongest responses present a feasible, genuinely student-centered plan; define success for both the students and the final product; and explain how student feedback will be gathered.

The Project Timeline is worth three points. It should be realistic and clearly distinguish student roles, adult roles, and shared responsibilities.

Sections A through C are limited to 350 words each. Drafting outside GAINS and checking the response against every part of the prompt and the highest rubric level can help applicants use that space effectively.

[Sources]

- Colorado Department of Education, Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant funding opportunity, 2026-2027.

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Project & Fiscal Reporting Responsibilities

Project Report

A summary of project activities
A description of how students were engaged in the project
A short reflection on successes and challenges

Fiscal Reporting

General ledger with reimbursement requests
Final Expenditure Report

Before we close the main portion of the webinar, please be aware of the reporting responsibilities that come with an award.

The end-of-project report will ask for a brief summary of activities, a description of how students were engaged, and a reflection on successes and challenges. Fiscal documentation includes a detailed general ledger with each reimbursement request and a Final Expenditure Report.

Project or budget changes must be requested in GAINS and approved by CDE before revised expenditures are made. Grantees must also avoid duplication of benefits and maintain appropriate fiscal and program records.

Your next steps are to confirm GAINS access, coordinate internally, identify the adult lead and student group, draft the application against the scoring rubric, obtain the required approvals, and submit before October 1 at 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Additional technical details are included in the appendix.

[Sources]

- Colorado Department of Education, Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant funding opportunity, 2026-2027.

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Appendix

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Accessing GAINS

https://colorado.egrantsmanagement.com

All applications must be completed and submitted through GAINS. Applications sent by email or provided in hard copy will not be accepted.

School districts and BOCES should contact their Local Access Manager to obtain the appropriate GAINS access. Charter school applicants should complete the Charter School GAINS Access Request Form. Because access and internal approvals may require time, please address these steps early rather than waiting until the application deadline.

The web address shown on this slide leads to GAINS. Additional documentation and training are available through CDE’s GAINS resources, and questions about the application system may be directed to GAINS@cde.state.co.us.

[Sources]

- Colorado Department of Education, Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant funding opportunity, 2026-2027.

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Federal Funding Acknowledgement

This federal funding acknowledgement must be included with all work products:

This project was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $X,xxx with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Every printed or video product developed with this funding must include the federal funding acknowledgment shown on this slide.

Please reproduce the required language accurately and replace the placeholder dollar amount with the applicable award amount. For a video, plan for the acknowledgment during storyboarding so it is readable and appropriately incorporated into the final product. For printed or digital materials, reserve sufficient space in the design.

This requirement should be discussed early with communications staff and any designers or students working on the product. CDE can provide guidance if there are questions about placement or implementation.

[Sources]

- Colorado Department of Education, Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant funding opportunity, 2026-2027.

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Use of Student Images, Video, or Likenesses

Student images, video, or likenesses may be included in campaign materials developed through this grant. Any use of student likeness must comply with all applicable district policies and procedures, including obtaining appropriate consent and media release forms prior to use or sharing.

Student images, video, voices, or other likenesses may be included in campaign materials, but their use must comply with all applicable district policies and procedures.

Before recording or sharing material, confirm the necessary consent and media-release requirements with district staff. Do not assume that an existing general release automatically covers this project or statewide sharing.

Application and reporting materials must not contain personally identifiable student or educator information. Data should be presented in aggregate, with small counts redacted according to the thresholds in the grant document: fewer than 16 students or fewer than five educators.

The safest approach is to involve communications, privacy, and other appropriate district staff early in the planning process.

[Sources]

- Colorado Department of Education, Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant funding opportunity, 2026-2027.

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Examples from Minnesota

https://communityblueprint.com/portfolio/school-breakfast-promotion/

This Minnesota school breakfast promotion is included only as an example of how a campaign can use a simple, memorable idea to attract attention. It is not a required format, and applicants are not expected to reproduce it.

As you review examples, consider what makes the message engaging, who the intended audience is, and whether the tone feels authentic to students. Colorado projects should emerge from the ideas, experiences, and voices of the participating students and should reflect the local school community.

The link on this slide provides additional examples for inspiration. Any third-party material should be treated as a reference rather than copied, and the final grant product should be original and student-designed.

[Sources]

- Community Blueprint, School Breakfast Promotion portfolio: https://communityblueprint.com/portfolio/school-breakfast-promotion/

- Colorado Department of Education, Start Strong: School Breakfast Awareness Mini Grant funding opportunity, 2026-2027.