In this study, we looked at how student responses to the District-Wide Survey (DWS) questions about eating breakfast relate to the availability of school breakfast programs.

The results generally show that breakfast after the bell programs are associated with greater student participation and fewer students skipping breakfast. Additionally, the level of economic disadvantage was related to the extent of hunger as a challenge in the classroom. The following statements summarize the most important findings across all the research questions:

• Students were more likely to participate in school breakfast programs if their school had a breakfast after the bell program.
• Students were more likely to report eating breakfast twice (at home and at school) if their school had a breakfast after the bell program.
• Students were less likely to skip breakfast if their school had a breakfast after the bell program.
• Teachers were more likely to report that hunger was a challenge at schools with higher rates of economic disadvantage.
• Teachers were more likely to report that hunger was a challenge at schools where more students reported not eating breakfast at all.
• Students were more likely to participate in school breakfast programs at schools with higher rates of economic disadvantage.

Use the button to download the full report, which includes a 2-page summary of findings on pages 23-24.