Breakfast in the Classroom

Springfield Public Schools, Springfield, MA

Grab-n-Go

Salemwood School, Malden, MA

Smoothies

East Hartford School District, East Hartford, CT

Breakfast Participation

Thompson Public Schools, Thompson, CT

Deeper Dive: Springfield Schools Case Study

Over the past few years, the Springfield Public School District has emerged as a leader in school nutrition. Due to some major changes to their school meal program, they have increased breakfast and lunch participation in their schools and have maintained a financially sustainable food service operation. There have also been noticeable improvements in overall student behavioral metrics including absences, tardiness, disciplinary action, and academic achievement. While this is likely multi-factorial, research suggests that when students’ nutrition needs are met, improvements are seen in attentiveness, attendance, and disciplinary problems.¹

When the Springfield team talks enthusiastically about the work they have led for the past few years, the ongoing introduction of Breakfast in the Classroom stands out, but they make it clear that there wasn’t just one thing. They tried many different approaches that filled the different needs in the urban community, from removing stigma from school meals, to addressing children feeling hungry on the days when there are no school meals, to connecting kids with farmers and the land.

Read the full Springfield Schools case study

¹Food Research & Action Center. http://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/cnnslp.pdf