Search

The School Breakfast Program provides breakfast to millions of children from low-income families who otherwise might go hungry in the morning and be less ready to learn. This report is the thirteenth from the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) to examine the program, its benefits, and the performance of the nation and of each state in reaching children with school breakfasts during the 2002-2003 school year. Data were obtained from state reports to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and from an annual FRAC survey of state nutrition officials. In a slightly different methodology from previous scorecards, the student participation estimates are based on nine-month averages of state data from the months of September through May. Findings indicate that approximately 8.2 million children participated in the School Breakfast Program nationwide during the 2002-2003 school year. Only 42.3 students received free or reduced price breakfast for every 100 students receiving free or reduced price lunch. Nationally, 78.3 percent of schools that offered free/reduced price lunch participated in school breakfast, up from 77.6 percent the prior year. Participation in the School Breakfast program varies significantly from state to state. FRAC estimates that state school breakfast programs failed to reach 2 million eligible children. At least 40 states have schools, and often large school districts, with universal breakfast programs, which provide breakfast at no charge to all children. Finally, direct certification, whereby households participating in other assistance programs can be certified for free school meals without filling out school meal applications has greatly simplified the process for both schools and families. The report also examines obstacles to participation in the School Breakfast Program and suggests solutions, and highlights opportunities/strategies during congressional reauthorization of child nutrition programs to increase participation. Several data tables, including a list of state legislation promoting school breakfast are included. (Contains a 14-item bibliography.) (HTH)

This report describes the current status of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) (referred to in combination as the Summer Nutrition Programs), federal entitlement programs providing support for state and local efforts to offer low-income children nutritious summer meals and snacks during supervised activities. Sidebars provide definitions of hunger and food insecurity, describe how each program operates, and highlight the 3-year simplified reimbursement pilot project in 13 states. The report notes that the large majority of students who could qualify for and benefit from these programs are not being served and that national participation in the Summer Nutrition programs did not change significantly from July 2001 to July 2002. Overall, 27 states had a moderate increase, 14 had at least a moderate decrease, and 10 showed little change. Data from a pilot project operating in 13 states over the past 2 summers show that simplified enrollment procedures and maximum reimbursement rates for all meals resulted in increased participation rates compared to the rest of the nation. The report's four appendices discuss the programmatic challenges in rural communities, present results of a special USDA summer food study, contain technical notes, and describe three SFSP model programs. (KB)

The School Breakfast Program provides breakfast to millions of children from low-income families who otherwise might go hungry in the morning and be less ready to learn. This report is the eleventh from the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) to examine the program, its benefits, and the performance of the nation and of each state in reaching children with school breakfasts during the 2001-2002 school year. Data were obtained from state reports to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and from an annual FRAC survey of state nutrition officials. Findings indicate that although there have been gains in school breakfast program participation over the past decade, further major increases in service remain an urgent goal. Participation varies significantly from state to state, with estimates that breakfast programs failed to reach almost 1.9 million eligible children. The obstacles to greater student participation in the school breakfast program were identified by state nutrition officials as: school buses arriving too late for students to participate, students unwilling or unable to arrive early enough, teacher or administrator opposition to classroom breakfasts, lack of parent awareness of the benefits of school breakfast, and students' reluctance to be perceived as "poor." Strategies to increase program participation include creating universal breakfast programs, making it easier for schools to receive the "severe need" reimbursement, and providing grants to start new programs. States efforts regarding the school breakfast program relate to state funding and breakfast requirements, and direct certification. The report's appendices include descriptions of three model breakfast programs and a delineation of state legislation promoting school breakfast. (Contains a 13-item bibliography.) (KB)