School Breakfast
Research demonstrates the importance of providing breakfast to children and youth. Children who eat a good breakfast tend to perform better in school, have a better attendance record and exhibit fewer behavior problems. In addition, children who eat a good breakfast develop healthy eating habits, visit the school nurse less frequently and are less likely to be obese. Despite the benefits of breakfast, for a variety of reasons, many families can't provide for their kids a healthy breakfast every morning.
The School Breakfast Program offers kids a nutritious breakfast at school so they can start their day off right. While the program is underutilized — only about half of students who rely on a free or reduced-price lunch at school participate — schools, districts, and public and private agencies and organizations across the country are supporting efforts to increase access to school breakfast programs. They are ensuring that more eligible students apply for or are directly certified for school meals, increasing awareness about the importance of breakfast and availability of breakfast at schools, and implementing service delivery models that have proven to be successful in increasing participation.
School Breakfast Innovation Map
A growing number of states, cities and school districts have initiated efforts to increase participation in school breakfast programs. Use the map below to find out more about major state, city and district-wide efforts to increase school breakfast participation.
Supporting school breakfast initiatives
Reports/Case Studies
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Hunger Free Colorado School Breakfast Legislation Lessons
This report highlights best practices and lessons learned from running house bill 13-1006, the Breakfast after the Bell Nutrition Program during the 2013 Colorado Legislative Session.
Created by: Hunger Free Colorado
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/Legislation%20Best%20Practices%206_14_13.PDF -
Serving Maryland's Children- Measuring Access to the School Breakfast Program
This report analyzes state and county-level participation in the School Breakfast Program and reveals several trends in breakfast participation across the state.
Created By: Maryland Hunger Solutions
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/MD%20schoolbreakfast_2013.pdf -
Maryland's Campaign to Increase School Breakfast Participation - Case Study
The Maryland Partnership to End Childhood Hunger adopted a strategic approach to achieve its ambitious goals of increasing school breakfast participation. The Partnership employed a three pronged approach focusing on an aggressive targeted outreach campaign to schools, advocacy for increased state support of breakfast, and a statewide school breakfast contest. In 2012, this approach proved successful with the Partnership achieving its goals for increased school breakfast participation. This case study provides details on the formulation, execution, and results of these strategies.
Created By: Share Our Strength
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/Marylands%20Campaign%20to%20Increase%20School%20Breakfast%20Participation%20Case%20Study.pdf -
Breakfast for Success: The Maryland Meals for Achievement Program-Issue Brief
The Maryland Meals for Achievement (MMFA) program is a successful, state-funded universal classroom breakfast program that ensures that all students at participating low-income schools can begin the school day ready to learn with a nutritious school breakfast. This brief describes the history of the program, how it operates, and lessons learned, as well as options to consider for bringing this model to other states.
Created By: Share Our Strength
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/MMFA%20brief.pdf -
NYC Breakfast Focus Groups Advocacy Case Study
In January 2013, the New York City No Kid Hungry campaign hired Global Strategy Group to conduct focus groups with parents from the Washington Heights area of the city to determine their awareness about the School Breakfast Program and learn more about barriers to participation and marketing best practices. This case study is an overview of the advocacy findings from this research project.
Created By: Share Our Strength
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/Advocacy%20Case%20Study_0.pdf -
NYC Breakfast Focus Groups Lessons Learned
In January 2013, the New York City No Kid Hungry campaign hired Global Strategy Group to conduct focus groups with parents from the Washington Heights area of the city to determine their awareness about the School Breakfast Program and learn more about their interest in the program overall, some potential barriers to participation and marketing best practices. This one-pager outlines the findings.
Created By: Share Our Strength
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/NYC%20Breakfast%20Focus%20Groups%20Lessons%20Learned.pdf -
Colorado Breakfast Case Study
This case study outlines the three pronged approach being used in Colorado to increase school breakfast participation including targeting, challenges to schools, and advocating for breakfast legislation.
Created By: Share Our Strength
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/Colorado%20Breakfast%20Case%20Study.pdf -
Ending Childhood Hunger: A Social Impact Analysis-Deloitte White Paper
In 2012, Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign collaborated with Deloitte on a project to identify and quantify the potential long-term impacts associated with children participating in the federal School Breakfast Program. Deloitte analyzed third party studies and publicly available data to develop several frameworks connecting outcomes from the School Breakfast Program with long-term benefits. This analysis, “Ending Childhood Hunger: A Social Impact Analysis,” showed there are dramatic potential impacts associated with the simple act of feeding kids a healthy school breakfast, including positive, large-scale outcomes in education, economics and health.
Created through a collaboration between Deloitte and Share Our Strength
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/Deloitte%20White%20Paper%20-%20Breakfast%20Final.pdf -
School Breakfast and Houston Independent School District Case Study
How Houston creatively overcame barriers to implementing Breakfast in the Classroom.
Created By: Share Our Strength
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/Houston%20and%20School%20Breakfast%20Case%20Study_0.pdf -
School Breakfast and Chicago Public Schools Case Study
A case study, focusing on Chicago Public Schools, that highlights how breakfast in the classroom can change program participation.
Created By: Share Our Strength
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/Case%20Study%20-%20Chicago%20and%20School%20Breakfast.pdf -
Effective Policies for Increasing Participation in School Breakfast Programs
The following issue brief addresses policy changes that states and districts can enact to increase School Breakfast Program (SBP) participation. Policy change can be an important tool for achieving sustainable, widespread change. School breakfast policy is an area ripe for advocacy. Through state legislation or district policy, states and localities have taken steps to increase participation in school breakfast, including:
- Requiring schools to offer breakfast.
- Requiring innovative breakfast models.
- Eliminating the reduced-price category.
- Providing universally-free breakfast.
- Providing an additional per-meal reimbursement.
- Providing funding for start-up/expansion costs related to changing breakfast models.Created By: Share Our Strength staff
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/sbp%20policy%20report%202%2019%2013.pdf -
Texas School Breakfast Report Card
Key Findings in Texas School Breakfast
• Texas served 300,082,570 total breakfasts during the 2011-2012 school year for a state reimbursement of $460,290,681.13
• At end of the 2011-2012 school year, Texas had 59.7% statewide participation in the School Breakfast Program (per 100 students eating Free or Reduced-Price lunch).
• If each school district in Texas reached the goal of serving breakfast to 60 low-income students per 100 low-income students eating lunch, the state would receive $46,672,962 in additional reimbursement.
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/THIBreakfastReportCard.pdf -
Hunger Free Colorado School Breakfast Report
This report highlights findings from Colorado school breakfast participation data from the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years while explaining the impact and importance of school breakfast access.
Prepared by: Hunger Free Colorado
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/HFC-SBP-Report-LR.pdf
Guides/Toolkits
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NFSMI Best Practice Guide for In-Classroom BreakfastThis resource and checklist was developed through case study research that involved four school districts with exemplary in-classroom breakfast programs. The purpose of this resource is to guide school nutrition directors who wish to implement in-classroom breakfast programs that are customized for each school within a district, or to assess existing in-classroom breakfast programs in schools.
Created By: National Food Service Managemant Institute
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/Best%20Practice%20Guide%20for%20In-Calssroom%20Breakfast.pdf -
Steps to Improving Access to Free & Reduced Price School Meals
This paper highlights helpful resources and describes six key opportunities for advocates and program administrators to ensure that all eligible children are certified quickly and easily for free or reduced-price school meals:
1. Reaching more children in households receiving SNAP benefits (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps) by improving direct certification data matching
2. Reaching eligible children who receive other means-tested public benefits by expanding direct certification data matching
3. Reaching children in foster care and homeless, migrant, and runaway children by strengthening processes to directly certify them
4. Eliminating access barriers by simplifying applications and subsequent communications
5. Ensuring year-long enrollment by retaining eligible children throughout the school year
6. Providing free meals to all children in high-poverty schools by utilizing the new community eligibility option
Created By: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/Steps%20to%20Improving%20Access%20to%20F%26RP%20School%20Meals.pdf -
Legislator’s Guide to School Breakfast
This guide intends to help schools consider using a proven tool for getting positive academic, behavioral and health outcomes. By making breakfast available during the instructional day, schools can help overcome the barriers children face to eating school breakfast before the day begins.
Created By: New Mexico Appleseed
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/Final%20breakfast%205_2.pdf -
Impact of School Breakfast On Children's Health and Learning
This document summarizes participation research results, which provide a comprehensive picture of the value of the school breakfast program.
Commissioned by the Sodexo Foundation
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/HarvardAssessmentSchoolBreakfastSodexo2008.pdf -
Chicago Breakfast in Classroom Toolkit
A comprehensive school breakfast in the classroom toolkit by Chicago Public Schools. The toolkit provides example letters for parents and teachers, instructional time ideas, and logistics worksheets.
Created By: Chicago Public Schools Nutrition Support Services
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/Chicago%20BIC%20toolkit.pdf -
Healthy Arkansas Classrooms Toolkit
This Arkansas-based toolkit engages teachers in the many ways they and their school can address hunger and obesity, from expanding school breakfast to starting a school garden to becoming a summer meals site.
Created by: The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and Share Our Strength
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/FinalToolkit.pdf -
Nebraska School Breakfast Challenge Toolkit
In this Nebraska School Breakfast Toolkit you will find resources to help you start or expand a school breakfast program and reach more children.
Modified from the Colorado School Breakfast Challenge Expansion Guide, which was prepared by Hunger Free Colorado and funded by Share Our Strength and Western Dairy Association
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/nsbc-breakfast-guide-lr-rev-for-website.pdf -
NEA-HIN & Share Our Strength Guide to Increasing School Breakfast Participation
This toolkit created by the NEA Health Information Network and Share Our Strength is designed to help school educators and staff with increasing participation in school breakfast programs.
Created By: NEA Healthy Information Network and Share Our Strength
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/NEA%20HIN%20School%20Staff%20Toolkit.pdf -
New Mexico Breakfast in the Classroom: A Quick Guide for Teachers
This quick guide is intended to provide teachers with the resources they need to implement a breakfast program in their classroom.
Created By: Share Our Strength No Kid Hungry New Mexico
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/nnkh_bic_teacher_recipe_for_success_2011%282%29.pdf -
Fuel Up First with Breakfast Challenge: Breakfast Expansion ToolkitThis guide is an introduction to the benefits of school breakfast and the specific tools and models that leaders in schools across the county have used to broaden the reach of school breakfast. It is not the only tool that you will have to help you through the process of increasing breakfast participation in your school.
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/WA%20BreakfastChallenge_web.pdf -
Child Nutrition Outreach Specialist Training Manual
This training manual provides extensive information and resources to assist Child Nutrition Outreach Specialists in building relationships with schools and provide technical assistance to increase student access to the School Breakfast Program.
Created By: Share Our Strength No Kid Hungry New Mexico
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/nm_nkh_child_nut_outreach_specialist_training_manual.pdf -
School Nutrition Association Growing School Breakfast Participation
Toolkit that highlights new ways to deliver breakfast to students on-the-go
Created By: School Nutrition Association
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/GrowingBreakfast-School%20Nutrition%20Association_0.pdf -
Michigan Youth Leadership Guide
This resource will help students understand the nutritional and learning benefits of eating breakfast through leadership opportunities designed for students.
Created By: Michigan State University Extension - Michigan Nutrition Network (MSUE-MNN), United Dairy Industry of Michigan and Michigan Department of Education
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/Mich%20YouthLeaderGuide.pdf -
Maryland Guide to Expanding School Breakfast
This toolkit illustrates creative steps some schools in Maryland have taken to increase breakfast participation by structuring breakfast as a part of the school day.
Created By: Kaiser Permanente and the Maryland Partnership to End Childhood Hunger
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/MD%20Guide%20to%20Expand%20school%20breakfast.pdf -
Colorado School Breakfast Guide
There are various strategies that can expand school breakfast and help the program reach more students. In this Colorado School Breakfast Expansion guide you will find resources to help you expand your program and reach more children.
Created By: Hunger Free Colorado
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/CO%20Breakfast%20Expansion%20Guide.pdf
Memos
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New Jersey School DOE & DOA Breakfast Memo
Memo from New Jersey Department of Education and Department of Agriculture supporting alternative methods for implementing the School Breakfast Program.
Created by: NJ DOE/DOA
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/NJ_Breakfast%20DOE%20%26%20DOA%20letter.pdf -
Indiana Instructional Time Memo
A letter from the Indiana Department of Education encouraging schools to provide and expand their breakfast programs.
Created By: Indiana Department of Education
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/IN_Instr_time_Memo_0.pdf -
Michigan Counting Breakfast Time as Instructional Time
The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify the Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) position on counting breakfast time as instructional time.
Created By: MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/bic_instruction_time_michigan.pdf -
Pennsylvania Instructional Time
This memo clarifies that breakfast in an activity that can be counted as instructional time
Created By: Pennsylvania Department of Education
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/Instruction_time_PA.pdf -
California School Breakfast Superintendents Memo
Joint Letter with the California Department of Education and the California State Controller's Office regarding the importance of a strong School Breakfast Program
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/CA_State_Superintendent_Letter%20July%202010.pdf
Surveys
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Teachers’ Perceptions of the School Breakfast Program
The report, Teachers’ Perception of the School Breakfast Program presents the results of a survey of teachers’ experiences and perceptions of the effects of the School Breakfast Program (SBP). The impacts of the SBP program on the school day, on teaching and on students are discussed.
Created By: End Hunger Connecticut!
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/CT%20Teachers%20Breakfast%20survey_2.pdf -
Hunger Free Heartland Consumer Data Report
Predictors of food security, food environments, and dietary quality in Nebraska and Iowa: Evidence from consumer research.
Created By: The Center for Human Nutrition and Hunger Free Heartland
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/HFH_January_2011_Consumer_Data_Report_Final.pdf -
Wisconsin School Breakfast Survey
The report focuses on a handful of specific research questions that look at the effects of perceived support, presence of a la carte and vending, challenges, and traditional vs. non-traditional serving models on school breakfast programs.
Created By: UW – Extension, Cooperative Extension Family Living Program
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/Wisconsin-School-Breakfast-Survey-Report_0.pdf -
CT Teachers Breakfast Survey
A report that is based on data collected by a survey that was sent to 720 teachers at 20 schools in Connecticut.
Created By: End Hunger Connecticut!
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/CT%20Teachers%20Breakfast%20survey_0.pdf -
Maryland Middle and High School Student's Perspectives
Maryland Middle and High School Students' Perspectives on Breakfast and School Breakfast Findings from a statewide survey of 413 public school students in grades 6-12.
Created By: Share Our Strength No Kid Hungry
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/MD%20middle%20%26%20high%20school%20student%20survey.pdf
Media/Community Engagement
PSA's/Videos
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Maryland School Breakfast Video
This video was created as part of the First Class Breakfast Initiative to highlight how a Maryland school successfully increased breakfast participation.
Created By: Share Our Strength
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/School%20Breakfast%20in%20Maryland%20-%20No%20Kid%20Hungry%20%5Bwww.keepvid.com%5D.mp4 -
Customizable School Breakfast Radio PSA Featuring Jeff Bridges
This school breakfast radio PSA features Jeff Bridges and can be customized with a phone number or website. Contact kdieterich@strength.org for information on how to customize this PSA.
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/No%20Kid%20Hungry%20Readio%2020%20Breakfast.mp3 -
Breakfast 2 Go: Wellstone Elementary School Video
This video demonstrates the basic components of breakfast to go or grab and go. Please download video.
Created By: Saint Paul Public Schools Nutrition Services and Figure2 Media
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/B2G%20Video.mp4 -
Houston Independent School District's First Class Breakfast Program
This video shows how the Houston Independent School District's First Class Breakfast program is making a difference.
Created By: Houston Independent School District
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/houston-first-class.mp4 -
South Carolina Video: It All Starts with Breakfast
This video highlights the success of school breakfast programs and encourages state expansion of school breakfast in South Carolina.
Presented By: Office Of School Food Services and Nutrition, South Carolina Department of Education
http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/SC%20breakfast%20video_0.mp4
