| For many years, scholars have recognized
| |
| | timing:
|
| the link between a good breakfast and
| |
| | • Nearly 80 elementary schools now
|
| improved student behavior and academic
| |
| | offer a universal breakfast - all
|
| performance. Boston schools see breakfast
| |
| | children eat together for free. The "poor
|
| as their first tool of success.
| |
| | kid" stigma has been eliminated.
|
| In 2000, the Boston schools partnered
| |
| | • Participating Boston schools make
|
| with the Massachusetts General Hospital
| |
| | breakfast a normal and expected part of
|
| to conduct a study on the impact of the
| |
| | the morning schedule - no different than
|
| federal School Breakfast Program in 16 of
| |
| | taking attendance.
|
| their elementary schools. Researchers
| |
| | • Boston schools serve breakfast in a
|
| found that a simple breakfast of milk,
| |
| | variety of ways, using the method that
|
| juice and cereal provides a fourth of the
| |
| | works best for each individual school's
|
| Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of key
| |
| | culture. Methods range from serving cold
|
| nutrients needed by growing children.
| |
| | or hot food in the classroom from a
|
| Breakfast reduces hunger in the classroom
| |
| | cooler or thermal pack; grab and go,
|
| and improves the overall nutrition of the
| |
| | brown bag breakfasts; sending students to
|
| students. They found that student
| |
| | the cafeteria after attendance; or a
|
| behavior and grades improved, especially
| |
| | combination of these approaches.
|
| in mathematics. Students were able to
| |
| | • Involving the children makes the
|
| spend more time on tasks and were more
| |
| | program more successful. Children
|
| creative. Attendance improved. Students
| |
| | rotating being in charge of food delivery
|
| demonstrated better concentration
| |
| | to the classroom, after-breakfast trash
|
| facilities and improved emotional
| |
| | removal, and returning leftovers to the
|
| functioning. Trips to the nurse's office
| |
| | cafeteria instills pride and
|
| were drastically reduced.
| |
| | responsibility. They become part of the
|
| Breakfast is by far the least expensive
| |
| | program, not just participants.
|
| program for improving academic
| |
| | The Boston schools have been recognized
|
| achievement, yet less than half the
| |
| | for their efforts in the School Breakfast
|
| children eligible for the free or reduced
| |
| | Program. Project Bread, the state's
|
| price meals participate nationwide. One
| |
| | leading anti-hunger organization and
|
| major obstacle is perception - breakfast
| |
| | Boston schools partner in the School
|
| programs are viewed as programs for the
| |
| | Breakfast Program, awards Boston schools
|
| "poor kids", a label many students wish
| |
| | that have achieved an 80 percent or
|
| to avoid. The other major obstacle is
| |
| | greater student participation - the point
|
| timing. Most schools across the country
| |
| | at which the breakfast program pays for
|
| serve breakfast before the start of
| |
| | itself with federal dollars.
|
| school - children who arrive late due to
| |
| | In 2002, Project Bread recognized 10
|
| tight morning schedules or on buses that
| |
| | elementary schools with the School
|
| are late, miss breakfast.
| |
| | Breakfast Excellence Award. Each award is
|
| Many of the Boston schools have
| |
| | $1,000 that the school's principal can
|
| implemented innovative strategies to
| |
| | use for any school-related expense.
|
| overcome the obstacles of perception and
| |
| |
|
