t' 1\1,.
·"' lltSKARV1
The School OCT 7 1980
Breakfast Program university of North Carolin~
at Greensboro in Title I Schools
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE I FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE I WASHINGTON, D.C.
FNS-209
WHATISTHESCHOOLBREAKFASTPROGRAM?
The federally funded School Breakfast Program makes nutritious breakfasts
available to children at school. The program was created in 1966 on a pilot
basis for several special categories of schools. It was made permanent in
1975, and now guarantees funding to all interested public and nonprofit
private schools.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which runs the program at the
Federal level, establishes regulations and distributes funds to each State
education department. Local school districts, or, in some cases, individual
schools apply to their State agency to run the program. Participating schools
agree to make breakfasts available to all interested students at or before the
beginning of the school day. The breakfasts must meet minimal Federal nutritional
standards. Each breakfast must include a serving of milk; whole-grain
or enriched bread products or cereal; fruit or vegetable or fruit or vegetable
juice; and, whenever possible, additional protein-rich foods.
Children who participate in the program either pay the full price that is established
by their school or receive breakfast free or at a reduced price, depending
on their family's income. USDA reimburses participating schools up to a certain
set rate for each free, reduced price, and paid breakfast that they serve. The
schools can use these funds to cover the costs of operating the breakfast program,
including costs of food, preparation, supervision, and cleanup. Most
schools are able to finance their programs with the money available from the
Federal Government and the students' payments.
Schools that are unable to cover costs with the regular reimbursement payments
and the students' payments may be eligible to receive extra "severe need" funds.
Each State sets its own guidelines for these additional funds. At a minimum,
the "severe need" category must include schools that are required by State law
to run a breakfast program and schools that serve 40 percent or more of their
lunches free or at a reduced price.
WHY IS BREAKFAST IMPORTANT AND WHY SHOULD IT BE SERVED AT SCHOOL?
Studies indicate that children perform better if they have eaten breakfast. In
a review of many of the studies done on children's need for breakfast, a professor
of nutrition at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said: "The studies that
focused on the short-term effects of hunger or morning feeding suggest that the
provision of breakfast may both benefit the student emotionally and enhance his/her
capacity to work on [scholastic] tasks."
Many school a dministrators, teachers, school nurses, and school food service
directors a ls o extol the value of breakfast for schoolchildre n. According to
Rev. Earnest Palmer, Superintendent of the Perry County Board of Education
in Alabama: "The importance of a nutritious School Breakfast Program cannot
be over-emphasized. Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it
is essential that our children receive this good start so that they will be
ready for a full day of activity. If the kids don't eat breakfast, they are
not physically ready for the day because they are going to be hungry; this
affects them mentally and emotionally which in turn has an effect on their
educational growth. Hungry children are more inclined to be discipline problems,
unattentive in class, sick and less active. All of these factors detract from
the students' ability to learn."
Recent surveys indicate that many children come to school without eating an
adequate breakfast or without eating any breakfast. In 1977, the Minnesota
State Senate's Subcommittee on Nutrition, in cooperation with the Minnesota
Department of Education, conducted a survey of 90,000 children. Survey
results indicated that only 14 percent of the children who were surveyed ate
an adequate breakfast at home. Numerous other surveys, including statewide
ones conducted in Massachusetts, Utah, and Wisconsin, underscore these
findings.
There are many reasons why children arrive at school without having eaten an
adequate breakfast or any breakfast. Many students travel long distances to
school and do not have time to eat, or are not hungry before they leave home.
In families where both parents work, there may be little or no time to
make breakfast each morning. Also, some families simply cannot afford to
prepare breakfast.
WHY DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR TITLE I SCHOOLS TO OFFER
THE USDA SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM?
Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act helps to expand and
improve elementary and secondary school programs for educationally disadvantaged
children. The School Breakfast Program seems to be a perfect complement to
Title I. The School Breakfast Program guarantees that these children start
their day with adequate nourishment, so that they can take the best advantage of
the special eciucaticral assist<H'C(· th e t ·~ · :tie 1 provides.
According to House Report 95-1137, Congress intended that the assessment of
educational need, which each school district completes in applying for Title
I funds, should identify all factors contributing to low academic achievement.
As stated in the report: -orhis step should also identify whether certain
special needs could best be met through noninstructional support services."
If hunger is one of those needs, then the School Breakfast Program can help to
meet it.
There are two other important reasons for having the School Breakfast Program
in Title I schools. First, schools that take advantage of USDA's food programs
don't have to spend Title I funds on food service. Second, Title I dollars
will not be wasted trying to teach children who can't concentrate because
they are hungry.
The School Breakfast Program can be a worthwhile project for Parent Advisory
Councils (PAC's) to work on. Once the program is set up, parents can participate
as volunteer or paid breakfast aides. (USDA's reimbursement may be used to pay
breakfast aides.) A Title I school may find the breakfast program to be a
good way to begin involving parents.
HOW CAN TITLE I SCHOOLS START A SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM?
Any public or private nonprofit school can have a breakfast program •. There is
no limit to the number of children who can get breakfast or the number of schools
that can serve breakfast in a school district. The only requirement is
that the school board must apply to the State Child Nutrition Program Office,
which in turn must approve the school for funding at once.
Any interested person or group can seek a breakfast program at a Title I
school. A Title I Coordinator, a parent, or a teacher can raise the idea at a
PAC meeting. The PAC can then prepare a report for the superintendent and the
school board based on discussions with parents, students, and school personnel,
and on information from schools that already have the program.
After the school board approves the breakfast program, it applies to the
State Child Nutrition Program Office at the State Department of Education. In
many States, those schools that are already operating the National School Lunch
Program merely fill in an additional line on the school lunch form to indicate
their entry into the breakfast program. In any case, starting up a breakfast
program requires very little paperwork.
The following Title I administrators and PAC members have had experience with
the School Breakfast Program and would be glad to answer your questions about
it and its relationship to Title I:
Mr. Gerald A. Cartier
Federal Aid Coordinator
Woonsocket Department of Education
70 North Main Street
Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895
(401) 766-5531
Ms. Brenda Lucas
. Parent
818 Beaumont
Baltimore, Maryland 21212
(301) 433-1299
Mr. B.J. Gosewehr
Central Administrative Office
Community Schools of Frankfort
50 South Maish Road
Frankfort, Indiana 46041
(317) 654-8192
Mr. ~enneth Storandt
mitle I District Supervisor
2154 Hoeschler Drive
La rrosse, Wisconsin S460l
(608) 788-3037
r<r. James L. '~eier
Coordinator, PAC activities
Steele Slementary School
Denver, Colorado 80209
(l03) 744-1451
Ms. :\arion lhlmington
Vice President
Title I PAC
2029 East 25th Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80205
(303) 399-2469
t1s . Sue Rrown
Parent
1800 N. W. 18th
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73106
(405) 525-5422
Ms. ~lla Creek, Title I Liaison
Miriam Green, Principal
Saybrook Elementary School
4301 ~enth Street
Baltimore, ~aryland 21225
(301) 396-1357
Ms. Cornelia McGee
PAC member
Alabama ~oalition Against Hunger
15 C McKenzie Courts
~uscaloosa, Alabama 35401
(205) 758-1296
~r. Clinton Minnis
Title I Coordinator
Markum Junior High School
1650 East l04th Street
Los Angeles, California 90002
(213) 564-6951
Dr. Jerry Plum
Coordinator, Federal Programs
Boise School District
1207 Port Street
Boise, Idaho 83702
(208) 336-1370, extension 246
Dr. De l~ayne Gall ups
Principal
SlizaDeth Street School
4811 Slizabeth Street
Cudahy, California 90032
(213) '>82-5378
In addition, you can contact any of the following agencies for more information on the
School Breakfast Program:
The National and Regional Offices of the U.S . Department of Agriculture's Food ar.0 Nutrition
Service:
Mr. John Ghiorzi
Regiona l Director
Special Nutrition Programs
New England Regional Office
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
33 North Avenue
Burlington, Massachusetts 01803
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts ,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
(617) 272-0861
Mr. Charles C. Kirby
Regional Director
Special Nutrition Programs
Southeast Regional Office
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
1100 Spring Street, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Alabama , Florida, Georgia , Kentucky ,
Mississippi, North Carolina , South
Carolina , Tennessee
(404) 881 -4911
~r . Brian Allison
Fegional Director
Special Nutrition Programs
Mountain Plains Regional Office
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
242 0 West 26th Avenue
F.oom 4 30 - D
Denver, Colorado 80211
C'olorado , Iowa, Kansas , ~~issouri,
vontana, ~ebraska , North Dakota,
soul'l Dakota , fltah, \vyoming
(1'13) 837-5071
~1r. Jack Bradley
Regional Director
Special Nutrition Programs
Western Regional Office
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
550 Kearny Street
San Francisco, California 94108
Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona,
Calfornia , Guam, Hawaii, Idaho,
Nevada, Oregon , Trust Territories,
Washington
(415) 556-4956
The Children's Foundation
School Food Advocacy Project
1420 New York Avenue N.W., Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 347-3300
The Chi ldren's Foundation
P.O. Box 5757
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502
(50S) 988-9686
The Children 's Foundation
88 Walton Street N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404) 552-2232
~r. R.J. Freiler
Regional Director
Special 'lutri tion Programs
Mid-Atlantic Regional Office
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
One Vahlsing Center
Robbinsville, New Jersey 08691
Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey,
New York, Pennsylvania,
l~ashinqton, D.C., Virgin ia, West
Virginia, Puertc Rico, Vira in Islands
(609) 259-3041
~1r. Russ Circa
Regional Director
Snecial ~lutri tion Programs
Midwest Regional Office
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
536 South Clark Street
Chicago, Illinois 6060~
Illinois , Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota,
Ohio , \hsconsin
(312) 353-6673
'lr. Hap Pulli urn
Regional Director
Special Nutrition Programs
Southwest Regiona l Office
Food and Nutrition Service, 'I"OA
llOO Commerce Street
Dallas, Texas 7~202
Arkansas, Louisiana , New ~exico,
Oklahoma, Texas
(::114) 767-0/.34
School Programs Division
Food and Nutrition Service, IJSDA
Washington , D.C. 20250
(:?02) 44 7-9065
The National Child Nutrition Project
46 Bayard Street
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901
(201) 846-1161
The Food Research and Action Center
2011 Eye Street N.W.
Washington, D . C. 20006
(202) 45?.-8250
The State Child Nutrition Program Office ir. Each State:
Mr. T. G. Smith
Coordinator
Child Nutrition Programs
State Department of Education
410 State Office Building
Montgomery, Al abama 36130
(205) 832 - 3321
Mrs. E. Ruth Benigno
School Food Coordinator
State Department of Education
Pouch F
Juneau, Alaska 99801
(907) 46 5-2856
Mrs. Letea Tuaolo
Director
Food Services Programs
Department of Education
Pago Pago , Tutuila, American Samoa
(Operator) 633-4963
Mrs. Junetta Barrett
Director
Food Nutrition Division
Department of Education
1535 West Jefferson Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
(602) 255-3362
Mrs. Ann Tolman
Director
Child Nutrition Programs
State Department of Sducation
165 Capitol Avenue
~artford, Connecticut 0~115
(203) 566-3195
Mr. Robert L. ,Tohn
State Supervisor of Food Services
Department of Public Instruction
John G. Townsend Building, Room ?.6S
Federal and Lookerman Streets
Dover, Delaware 19901
(302) 678-4718
Mr. Julias Jacobs
Director
Department of Food Services
Public Schools of The District of Columbia
3535 V Street, N.S.
Washington, D.C. ?.0018
(202) 'i 76-7400
Mr. George A . ~ockenbery
Administrator
Food and Nutrition Management
State Department of Education
319 Nott Building
Tallahassee, Florida 32304
(904) 4RR-7647
Mr. Doyle Border
Coordinator
Schoo l Food Services
State Department of Education
403 East Education Building
Little Rock , Arkansas 7220 1
(SOl) 371-2466
Mrs. L. Gene White
Director
Office of Food and Nutrition Services
State Department of Education
721 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, California 95814
(916) 445-0850
Mr. Daniel G . Wisotzkey
Director
School Foon Services and Supportive Services
Colorano State Department of Education
?.01 East Colfax Street , ~ 318
State Office Building
Denver , Colorado R0203
(103) 839-2217
~r. Cecil F. Olsen
Director
Food Services Branch
State Department of Education
Len B. Jordan Office Building , Room 2 1 3
650 West State Street
Boise , Idaho 83720
(208) 384-3106
Mr. Robert E. Ohlzen
Manager
School Food Services Section
Illinois Office of Education
100 North First Street
Springfield, Illinois 62777
(217) 782 - 2491
Mr. John J . Harter
Director
Division of School Food and Nutrition Programs
State DepartMent of Public Instruction
State House, Room 229
Innianapolis, Indiana 46024
(117) 633-6613
Mr. Verne F.. Carpenter
Director
Child Nutrition Programs Division
State Department of Public Instruction
Grimes State Office Building
Des tloines, Iowa 50319
(515) 281- 5357
Miss Annette Bomar
Administrator
School ~ood and Nutrition Section
State Department of Education
156 Trinity Avenue S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404) 656-2457
Ms. Eleanor Y-. Smith
Associate Superintendent, Food Services
Department of Education
Government of Guam
P.O. Box DE
Agana , Guam 96910
(Operator) 477-9240
Mr. Stanley w. Doucette
Director
School Food Services
State Department of P.ducation
llOn Koko Head Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaii 96804
(808) 732 - 5868
11iss Gene \vest
Director
School Nutrition Programs
State Department of Education
Education Building
Augusta , '1aine 04333
(?07) 289-2371
Mrs . Joan H. v/eatherhol tz
Chief
Food and Nutrition Branch
State Department of Education
::>oo \'1 . Baltimore Square
Baltimore, MD 21201
( 301) 796-8300 - (ext. 2no)
Mr. 'I'om O'Hern
Director
Bureau of Nutrition Er1ucation and
School Food Services
State Department of Education
31 St. James Avenue
Park Square Building
Boston , ~assachusetts 02116
(617) 727-')764
Mr. Roger Lynas
Supervisor
Food and Nutrition Programs
School ~1anagement Services
State Department of Education
116 l/2 South Washington Street
Lansing, :1ichigan 48909
(517) 373-3247
Mr. Charles L. 11atthew
Director
Child Nutrition Section
State Department of Education
Capitol Square Building, Room 509
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
(612) 296-6986
Mrs. Rita Hamman
Director
School Food Services
State Department of P.ducation
Kansas State P.ducation Building
120 East Tenth Street
Topeka , Kansas 66612
(913) 296-2276
Mr . Redwood ~aylor
Director
Division of School Food Services
Bureau of Administration and Finance
State Department of Education
Capitol Plaza, 19th Floor
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
(502) 564-4390
Dr. Harold Denning
Acting Bureau Director
Local School System Services
State Department of Education
626 North Fourth
P.O . Box 440n4
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804
(504) 389- 6050
Mr. H. Brisbin Skiles
Supervisor
School Food Services
Office of Public Instruction
State Capitol
Helena, Montana 59601
(406) 449-2501
Dr. Ray Steinert
Director
School Food Services
State Department of Education
233 South Tenth Street
Lincoln , Nebraska 68509
(402 ) 867-2486
Mr. James Menath
Director of Field Services
State Department of Education
400 \·lest King Street Capitol Com!Jlex
Carson City, Nevada 89710
(702) 885-5700
Dr. L l oyd Littlefield
Director
Food and Nutrition Services
Division of Administration
410 State House Annex
105 Loudon Road , Building #4
Concord, New Hampshire 03301
(603) 271-3646
~1r. \•la 1 ter F. Calender
Director
Bureau of Child Nutrition Programs
Division of Finance and Regulatory Services
State Department of Education
225 West State Street
Trenton, New Jersey 08625
(609) 292-8527
Mr. John H. Walker
Assistant Director
Administration and Finance
State Department of Education
Walter Sillers Office Building , Room 604
550 High Street
P. 0. Box 771
Jackson, ~ississippi 39205
(601) 353-6916
Mr. Wilbert Grannemann
Djrector
School Food Services
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Jefferson Building
100 East Capitol Avenue
Jefferson City , Missouri 65107
(314) 75l-3526
:tr. Gene P. !ickey
Director
School Food Services
State Department of Public Instruction
Education Building
Raleiqh, North Carolina 27611
(919) 733-7162
~iss Roberta A. Bosch
Director
School Food Services
State Department of Public Instruction
State Capitol Building
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505
(701) 224 - 2294
Mr. Robert H. Koon
Director
Division of School Lunch
State Department of Education
65 South Front Street, Room 1009
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 521 - 3327
Mr. Fred L. Jones
Director
School Lunch Section
State Department of Education
2500 North Lincoln Boulevard
Oliver Hodge ~temorial Education Building, Room 340
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
(40~) 521-3327
Mr. Richards S . ~iller
Coordinator
School Food and Nutrition Services
Oregon State Department of Education
924 Lancaster Drive NE., Room 212
Salem, Oregon 97310
(501) 378-3577
Mr . John Trojacek
Director
School Food Services
State Department of Education
Santa Fe , New Mexico 87503
(505) 827- 2591
Mr . Richard 0 . Reed
Chief
Bureau of School Food ~anaqement
State Department of Education
99 1-Jashington .O.venue, Room 171!0
Albany, New York 12230
(518) 474 - 156f>
Mr. Warren M. Vann, Jr .
Chief
Division of Food and Nutrition Services
State Department of Education
P . O. Rox 911
Harrisburg , Pennsylvania 17126
(717) 787-1415
Miss Maria J. Laboy
Directress
School Lunchroom Division
Department of Education
URB Industrial Tres Monjitas
P.O. Rox 759
Hato Rey , Puerto Rico 00919
(809) 767 - 0144
t1r. Robert F. Kaveny
Program Business t1anager
Office of School Food Services
Roger Williams Building
22 Hayes Street
Providence , Rhode Island 02908
(401) 277- 2711
Ms. Vivian Pilant
Director
Office of School Food Services
State De~artment of Education
305 Rutledge Building
Columbia , South Carolina 29201
(803) 758-7665
Mr . Gary Rhead
Administrator
School Food Services
Department of Education and Cultural
.O.ffairs
Division of Elementary and Secondary
F:ducation
State Office Building #3
Pierre, South Dakota 57501
(60S) 773-1413
>1r. Clay Coble
T")irector
School food Services
State Department of Education
Cordell Hull Building , Room 117
Nashville , Tennessee 37219
(615) 741 - 2927
Mr. Charles A. Cole
Director
School Lunch Program
Texas Education Agency
201 East 11th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 4 75-4363
Ms . Linda Parkinson
Food Service Officer
Department of Educat i on
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Saipan, Mariana Islands 96950
Mr . Hank Wina1ver
Coordinator
School Food Services
250 Fast 500 South
Salt Lake City , Utah 84111
(801) 533 - 5471
Miss Banba Foley
Chief
Child Nutrition Programs
State Department of Education
State Office Building
120 State Street
~ontpelier, Vermont 05602
(R02) 828-2447
~rs. Gail Rivera
Director
School Lunch Program
Department of Education
175 Estate Annas Retreat
Charlotte Amalie
St. Thomas , Virgin Islands 00801
(809) 774-5339
Issued Febru a ry 1 980
Sli ghtly revise d September 1 980
~he School Breakfast Program is available to children
regardless of race , color, or national origin.
Mr. John F. Miller
Supervisor
School Food Services
State T")epartment of Education
Eighth and Broad Streets , Room 302
Richmond , Virginia 23216
(804) 9 36- 2604
11iss Virginia R. Whitlatch
Director
School Food Services
Department of Public Instruction
Old Capitol Building
Olympi a , Washington 98504
(206) 753 - 3580
Mrs. Faith Gravenmier
Director
Child Nutrition Programs
State Department of Education
Building #~ , Room R- 248
1900 Washington Street East
Char l eston, West Virginia 25305
( 104) 348-2708
Mr. Edward J. Post
Director
Bureau for School Food Services
Department of Public Instruction
126 Langdon Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53701
(f,Qfl) ?.66 - 1509
Dr. '1ark Fox
Assistant Superintendent of
Administrative Services
State Department of Education
Hathaway Building, Room 284
Cheyenne, l.Jyoming 82007.
(107 ) 7 77 - 7291
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE CHILDRSN'S FOU:'-IDATION, WASHINGTON D.C., fOR ITS ASSISTANCE
r:: :JE\'ELOPI:'-IG THIS PUBLICATION.
