National School Breakfast Week: March 2-6, 2015
What is National School Breakfast Week?
The first week of March is National School Breakfast Week. In honor of this week, we want to highlight the efforts of NEA and their affiliates to feed hungry students breakfast. To date, NEA HIN’s Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) Program has provided 70,000 students a healthy start to their day. Share the resources on this page to show your support of school breakfast.
Why is school breakfast important?
Studies of school breakfast programs have found that students who eat breakfast at school show improved academic achievement – especially in vocabulary, math and standardized tests – have better attendance records, are less likely to be tardy and exhibit fewer behavioral and psychological problems. Children who regularly eat breakfast also have a better quality of nutrient intake and are less likely to be overweight or obese.
What is NEA HIN doing about school breakfast?
The NEA Health Information (NEA HIN) has been working on the issue of child hunger through a program called Breakfast in the Classroom which helps provide more students with the morning meal. NEA HIN wants to provide information about the academic and health benefits of school breakfast as well as promote alternative breakfast delivery models.
How you can get involved?
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Share our BIC Information: Encourage your friends and colleagues to share our information via Facebook or Twitter. Use our hashtag: #NSBW15.
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Visit the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom new website and see if your school is eligible for a BIC grant!
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Share our Breakfast Resources: This year we are releasing three new videos featuring NEA Secretary-Treasurer Princess Moss. The first video is being released on February 20 and the following two videos will be released in sequence on March 2 and 4.
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Sign up for NEA HIN’s newsletter and blogs: Members can get more information about NEA HIN’s breakfast program at www.neahin.org.
Other resources about the importance of School Breakfast
- American Association of School Administrators (AASA) – Their resources focus on engaging Superintendents to promote alternative school breakfast programs.
- Action for Healthy Kids – Check out these helpful resources, webinars, grants and stories on the importance and benefits of school breakfast in the classroom.
- Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) – Has a number of terrific resources related to school breakfast, the benefits of breakfast, provision 2 and other data about school breakfast. Also, check out their newly released School Breakfast Scorecard and report on making school breakfast work in large school districts.
- National Association of Elementary School Principals Foundation (NAESPF) – Has great online resources for principals implementing breakfast in the classroom programs and for principals interested in getting breakfast in the classroom started at their school.
- School Nutrition Foundation’s (SNF) Breakfast Resource Center – Has a wealth of ideas to help guide you in making the right choice for the children in your district. Access the Resource Center by clicking here.
- Share Our Strength – Has great infographics, data, and reports regarding the power of breakfast and an annual Teacher’s Report on hunger in schools.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service – USDA has great information about breakfast and has an easy to use breakfast toolkit.