Research shows that eating breakfast at schools improves academic performance
Austin ISD is celebrating National School Breakfast Week, March 5–9, by reminding the community that school breakfast provides a healthy, energizing start to the day.
Austin ISD is now serving more than 13,000 free breakfasts to students daily as part of the Breakfast in the Classroom program.
According to the most recent data from the Food Research & Action Center, serving school breakfast during the school day is one of the most effective strategies to ensure children have access to a nutritious breakfast.
“A healthy breakfast is a great way to ensure students are getting the best education they can,” said Christine Steenport, Nutrition and Food Services assistant director of operations. “National School Breakfast Week is the perfect time for us to further educate parents and students about the benefits of good nutrition, such as higher test scores and better attendance records.”
Research shows that eating breakfast at school improves academic performance, health and behavior. School nutrition professionals in AISD prepare breakfast and lunch every day. These meals exceed federal nutrition standards by limiting fat, calories and sodium. Food services also encourages students to choose from the fruits, vegetables and whole grains offered with school meals.
During National School Breakfast Week, students who start their day with a school breakfast will automatically be entered for a chance to win a prize. The prizes include bicycles for elementary school students and FitBit activity trackers for middle school and high school students.
AISD has made strides to increase breakfast participation through Breakfast in the Classroom programs, helping reduce hunger and improve student learning, at 41 schools. Many of the participating schools are part of a national network supported by the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom.
This school year, AISD was awarded a grant from the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom—a joint initiative from the Food Research & Action Center, National Association of Elementary School Principals Foundation, the NEA Foundation and School Nutrition Foundation—to increase participation in the School Breakfast Program.
AISD schools currently participating in the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom grant program for the 2017–18 school year are:
Elementary Schools
Allison
Blackshear
Brooke
Brown
Govalle
Harris
Oak Springs
Pleasant Hill
Sims
Zavala
High Schools
Eastside Early College
International
LBJ Early College
Travis Early College
The following AISD schools also have access to funding to implement in Breakfast in the Classroom in the near future:
Elementary Schools
Blanton
Campbell
Cook
Galindo
Graham
Jordan
McBee
Norman
Ortega
Overton
Padron
Odom
Reilly
Sanchez
Walnut Creek
Williams
Winn
Wooldridge
Wooten
Middle Schools
Bedichek
Burnet
Dobie
Martin
High Schools
Lanier Early College
Reagan Early College
Learn More about Breakfast In The Classroom in the video below: