Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
- This strategy can help address educational disparities and promote healthy childhood environments. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve these outcomes are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
- Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Program overview
Improving children’s ability to learn: School breakfast programs offer children a nutritious meal early in the day, for free or at a reduced price. Schools who participate in the federal School Breakfast Program receive subsidies for each meal served.
Funded by the federal government: The School Breakfast Program provides funding to states to operate breakfast programs in schools and childcare institutions. State agencies (typically state Departments of Education but also potentially state Departments of Agriculture or Human Services) serve as the link between the US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service and local school districts who operate the program in schools. States reimburse districts for meals served. Meals must meet federal nutritional requirements in order to qualify for reimbursement.
Free and reduced prices for families: Eligibility for the School Breakfast Program is determined by a family’s income, which is verified via an application submitted directly to the school. Children whose household income is below 130% of the federal income poverty line qualify for free breakfast and lunch, and those whose household income is below 185% of the federal poverty line qualify for reduced prices. In addition, children may be eligible based on their participation in other federal assistance programs such as SNAP. In the highest poverty schools and school districts, the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) enables schools to serve meals for free to all enrolled students with no household application required.
Effects on academic performance and engagement: Children who eat breakfast (whether before school or via school breakfast programs) perform better on math exercises, vocabulary tests, demanding mental tasks, and standardized tests. School breakfast programs may also improve students’ attendance, concentration, comprehension, memory, alertness, and reaction to frustration.
- Cost per Participant
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Not available
Multiple studies with rigorous designs demonstrate that school breakfast programs are a well-supported strategy for improving academic performance and encouraging healthy food consumption.
- A 2019 research synthesis found that school breakfast programs increase academic engagement and achievement and increase healthy food consumption. There is also some evidence that school breakfast programs may increase food security, contribute to a healthier weight trajectory, and improve student attendance.
Consider alternative formats for breakfast delivery: There are a variety of models for school breakfast programs that can help to mitigate possible implementation hurdles in different settings. For example, meals may be served in the cafeteria before the school day, in classrooms at the start of the day, on the bus, or as a mid-morning break. Because serving breakfast exclusively in the cafeteria before school starts can limit the time that students have to eat, nontraditional breakfast formats may increase the number of students who are able to have a full breakfast.
Reduce stigma: Universal free breakfast programs (such as are made possible by the CEP), where all students are provided with a free meal regardless of their family’s economic status, ensure that eating breakfast at school is not necessarily an indicator of a child’s socioeconomic status. Incorporating breakfast into other school routines (during attendance in the classroom or on the bus, for example) can also help to reduce the stigma of eating breakfast at school.
Source food products locally: Whenever possible, schools may benefit from sourcing food products and ingredients from local sources. Purchasing food from nearby producers can provide fresher ingredients and healthier options, support local and regional economies, and reduce the climate impact of food transportation and storage.
Partner with and educate families: School breakfast programs are most effective when parents are educated about their availability and the food options available. Depending on the specific school district, parents may need guidance on how to sign up for school breakfast programs, what the qualifications for reduced prices are, why eating breakfast matters for their children, and how to continue to promote healthy eating habits at home.