School Breakfast REPORT CARD Connecticut

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1 2014 Connecticut School Breakfast REPORT CARD Long gone are the days when families have time in the morning to sit down at the kitchen table for breakfast. A recent social impact analysis conducted by Share Our Strength and Deloitte indicates that students who eat school breakfast on average attend 1.5 more days per year, score 17.5% higher on standardized math tests, and have a 20% higher high school graduation rate. 1 Busy morning schedules and early school start times make eating a healthy morning meal challenging, if not impossible. Additionally, 1 in 5 children in Connecticut struggle with food insecurity, a term used to describe household hunger, with some of them coming to school having not eaten since lunch at school the previous day. A hungry child cannot focus, learn, or perform well on tests. Research shows food insecurity is linked with lower academic achievement across children of all ages. Most schools across the country (90%) have responded by participating in the federal School Breakfast Program (SBP) to ensure all of their students start the day with a full stomach and at their best for academic success. The 2014 CT School Breakfast Report Card provides a close look at where Connecticut and its communities stand in providing breakfast to students, while highlighting successful implementation techniques and resources for advocates looking to support school breakfast in Connecticut. This report includes: n National and state trends in school breakfast participation n Town and school district data on student participation in school breakfast n Overview of the mechanics of the School Breakfast Program n Data on positive student outcomes for students eating breakfast in the classroom n Recommendations and resources to get started or expand school breakfast in a district 1

2 2014 CONNECTICUT SCHOOL BREAKFAST REPORT CARD WHY SCHOOL Breakfast? Figure 1: 2013 Connec+cut School Health Survey Breakfast eaten on all of the past seven days compared to Average Grades in School Neither the best curriculum nor the most outstanding teachers can overcome the hunger hurdle which many Connecticut students face every morning. With the State s overall child food insecurity rate increasing to 19.6 percent in 2014, hunger is now affecting 1 in 5 of our children. 2 No community is immune to hunger and the symptoms of hunger often go unrecognized, and may present as headaches, stomachaches, tiredness, nausea, or disruptive behaviors. Even one hungry child in a classroom can affect the delicate culture created in a community of learners. National research illustrates the importance of being properly fueled to face the day and tells us that everything from nurse visits to disciplinary referrals are dramatically reduced when children eat school breakfast while academic achievement and classroom attendance increase. 1 Supporting these findings, the most recent data from the 2013 Connecticut School Health Survey shows the positive relationship between eating breakfast and grades in school. (See Figure 1). 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 45.0% 36.2% 21.7% A's B's C's D's/F's Data Source: Connec.cut Department of Public Health Average Grades in School Breakfast Every Day 9.6% STATE OF SCHOOL BREAKFAST IN CONNECTICUT More schools are participating in the School Breakfast Program in Connecticut and across the nation, however, Connecticut remains last in the nation in the number of schools participating in the School Breakfast Program that otherwise participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), as it has for the past nine years. According to the Food Research and Action Center s School Breakfast Scorecard 2014, only 68.3% of Connecticut schools participating in the NSLP also participate in the SBP. Nationally, 89.8% of schools provide both programs (Figure 2). Only 46.9% of students in Connecticut on free and reduced-price meal plans who eat school lunch also eat school breakfast as compared to 51.9% nationally (Figure 4). Figure 2: Percentage of Schools Participating in School Breakfast Program* Connecticut Compared to The Nation 2 Feeding America, End Hunger Connecticut!

3 C O N N EC T I C U T S C H O O L B R E A K FA S T R E P O R T C A R D SNAPSHOTS OF How School Breakfast Works SCHOOL BREAKFAST IN CONNECTICUT Towns NOT participating in the School Breakfast Program School Year Percentage of Free or Reduced-Price Students Participating in School Breakfast School Year The Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides funding for the School Breakfast Program through set reimbursement rates at different levels for meals served to students on free, reduced-price, and paid meal plans. Any public school, nonprofit private school, or residential child care institution can participate in the SBP. The Connecticut State Department of Education administers the program across the state and local School Food Authorities (SFAs) operate the SBP in schools. In the academic years, schools will receive federal reimbursements of: $1.62 $1.32 $.28 for each free breakfast served for each reduced-price breakfast served for each paid breakfast served Schools in Connecticut meet the State s severe need definition if twenty percent or more of their lunch eaters were receiving free and reduced-price lunch in the fiscal year two years prior. Each school meeting this definition and participating in the federal School Breakfast Program receives a $3,000 grant from the state in addition to an enhanced reimbursement for each breakfast meal served Connecticut School Breakfast Report Card 3

4 2014 CONNECTICUT SCHOOL BREAKFAST REPORT CARD Schools with forty percent or more of their lunch eaters on a free or reduced-price meal plan in the fiscal year two years prior are considered severe need by the federal government and are eligible for an additional $.31 in funding for each free or reduced-price breakfast served from the USDA. Serving universal breakfast, or breakfast that is free for all students, increases access to the program and decreases the stigma that may otherwise be placed on students living in lower income households for eating breakfast at school. There are two paths to universal breakfast that schools with higher rates of students living in poverty can take to minimize administrative burden and maximize federal reimbursements: Provision II and the newer Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). In 2005 through End Hunger Connecticut! s leadership, an annual in-classroom breakfast grants program was created within the CT State Department of Education (CSDE). The CSDE maintains this competitive grant program of $50,000 to assist up to ten severe need schools to establish in-classroom breakfast programs. More than thirty schools have participated in the grants program since The funds provided through the grants provide the catalyst for programs that enable school districts to leverage hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal reimbursements to feed nutritious meals to children. See Figure 3 for survey results of behavior changes in students among schools participating in this grants program. Figure 3: 4 End Hunger Connecticut!

5 2014 CONNECTICUT SCHOOL BREAKFAST REPORT CARD How Is Breakfast Best Served? More than one-half of students in Connecticut receiving free or reduced-price school lunch do not eat school breakfast. Even schools that provide some form of school breakfast often have low numbers of meals served because breakfast is often served before school starts and their delivery model does not encourage the highest student participation. There are a variety of models that can fit the unique characteristics of any school and increase participation more than the traditional cafeteria model reaching more students with a nutritious breakfast while increasing federal subsidies to the district. The breakfast programs with the highest participation ensure breakfast is consumed after the first school bell rings. Optimal Ways to Serve School Breakfast Grab n Go Grab n Go is a service delivery model where students pick up conveniently packaged breakfasts from mobile service carts in high traffic areas, such as hallways, entryways or cafeterias, when they arrive at school or between classes. Students can eat in the cafeteria, the classroom or elsewhere on school grounds. The Grab n Go model is often used in middle and high schools because it is so flexible and can accommodate varying schedules and students who are on the move. 3 Second Chance Breakfast Second Chance Breakfast refers to a meal service model where students eat breakfast during a break in the morning, often after first period or midway between breakfast and lunch. Schools can serve breakfast in the same manner as they would with traditional Grab n Go breakfast. This model can be particularly effective for older students who may not be hungry first thing in the morning or may opt to socialize with friends. Second Chance Breakfast may be referred to by a variety of names, such as Breakfast After First Period, School Brunch or Mid-Morning Nutrition Break. 3 Breakfast in the Classroom Breakfast in the Classroom is a service delivery model where students eat breakfast in their classroom after the official start of the school day. Students or staff may deliver breakfasts to classrooms from the cafeteria via coolers or insulated rolling bags, or school nutrition staff can serve breakfast from mobile carts in the hallways. Breakfast in the Classroom typically takes minutes and can happen during morning tasks such as attendance or it can be integrated with other instructional activities. Teachers have recognized this as an optimal time to connect with students on issues that may be effecting their learning or social status in the class. Some schools encourage teachers to participate in the program and eat with their students. 3 Breakfast Vending Breakfast Vending allows students to access breakfast foods though vending machines. This model is most often implemented in high schools and vending machines are usually only available prior to the start of the school day Connecticut School Breakfast Report Card 5

6 2014 CONNECTICUT SCHOOL BREAKFAST REPORT CARD Growing in the State While participation has steadily grown over the past five years, and surpasses the national average on the rate of growth (see Figure 4), there continues to be much work to be done both implementing new programs and increasing student participation in schools that offer school breakfast. Everyone can play a role in ensuring all students start their day with a healthy morning meal and prepped for success. Administrators can make breakfast a priority in their schools by treating it as a necessary tool for learning, like textbooks. They should work with their school food service director to investigate programs in neighboring communities. Best practices and tips for success are shared freely throughout the state. Administrators can foster parental support in the creation of a school culture that fully embraces school breakfast as a key component in maximizing student achievement. Teachers can network with their peers in other schools to share and learn about the many positive outcomes evident in concentration, time on task, Figure 4: and retention of new learning. Teachers can also investigate all the information and connect with other teachers who have experienced the dramatic changes in their classrooms when their children are well prepared nutritionally. Parents can be leaders by encouraging principals to implement or expand the school breakfast program by choosing the most appropriate delivery model for their children s needs. Parents can talk with the school food service providers about how they can best support their efforts in increasing student participation in school breakfast. 6 End Hunger Connecticut!

7 2014 CONNECTICUT SCHOOL BREAKFAST REPORT CARD CONNECTICUT BREAKFAST EXPANSION TEAM Created in the spring of 2009, the Connecticut Breakfast Expansion Team (CBET) was the collaborative response to Connecticut s consistently poor performance providing school breakfast programs for Connecticut Students. Representatives from the Child Nutrition Unit of the CT State Department of Education, the CT Department of Administrative Services, End Hunger CT! and the CT No Kid Hungry campaign, New England Dairy & Food Council, and the School Nutrition Association of CT meet on a monthly basis to explore ways to promote the SBP and assist schools wishing to implement or expand their school breakfast offerings. When contact is made with a school or district interested in starting or expanding school breakfast, CBET individuals are made available to visit the stakeholders at a school, speak with teachers/staff, offer best practice tips on the options for each unique school community and make peer connections across the board. CBET members have a wide network of mentors in a full range of specialties common to every school district. A group called the Champions of Breakfast boasts a long list of experienced SBP proponents ready to assist in whatever capacity a district deems appropriate for their needs. From custodians to Board of Education members, Champions stand ready to offer their unique perspectives on the SBP and freely answer questions and offer best practices, tips, and advice. CBET members have a wide network of mentors in a full range of specialties valuable to every school district, including being able to connect interested parties with a group called the Champions of Breakfast, which boasts a long list of experienced SBP proponents ready to assist in whatever capacity a district deems appropriate for their needs. CBET is available to help schools establish or expand school breakfast programs. For more information or assistance, contact Jackie Schipke, Connecticut State Department of Education: (860) or jackie.schipke@ct.gov. Since its inception, CBET has helped shepherd more than 270 schools through the implementation of the SBP in their communities. This unique collaboration works! USDA reports that School Breakfast participation among students eating free and reduced price breakfast in Connecticut increased by 280% from April to June, 2014, compared to the same time period in Connecticut School Breakfast Report Card 7

8 Connecticut School Breakfast Report Card Data 2014 School Breakfast Data Listed in Alphabetical Order School Year District % Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Meals F/R Breakfast Rate Total Breakfast Table by NOT Serving F/R Students Eating Lunch Table by NOT Serving ALL Students Eating Lunch ANDOVER 14.4% NA NA NA NA ANSONIA 66.5% $121,283 $165,947 ASHFORD 29.6% $16,331 $30,574 AVON 6.1% $35,255 $79,569 BARKHAMSTED 7.5% $4,051 $8,495 BERLIN 14.2% $39,483 $102,872 BETHANY 4.8% $3,109 $8,745 BETHEL 18.6% $78,171 $136,119 BLOOMFIELD 51.6% $124,911 $230,330 BOLTON 13.6% $17,380 $32,693 BOZRAH 27.2% $6,509 $14,362 BRANFORD 23.5% $62,912 $129,303 BRIDGEPORT 99.9% $512,427 $937,131 BRISTOL 45.0% $452,024 $505,470 BROOKFIELD 8.6% $29,302 $55,189 BROOKLYN 26.3% $20,422 $40,955 CANAAN 9.1% NA NA NA NA CANTERBURY 24.0% $14,046 $18,703 CANTON 9.7% $16,953 $38,036 CHAPLIN 37.2% $7,325 $17,389 CHESHIRE 7.2% $50,656 $133,760 CHESTER 12.7% $4,166 $8,662 CLINTON 21.4% $48,198 $76,144 COLCHESTER 15.4% $42,597 $73,893 COLEBROOK 20.4% $4,536 $6,397 COLUMBIA 10.7% $11,345 $16,528 CORNWALL 21.0% NA NA NA NA COVENTRY 17.9% $35,220 $60,282 CROMWELL 16.2% $44,809 $99,813 DANBURY 46.2% $744,706 $883,406 DARIEN 0.8% NA NA NA NA DEEP RIVER 14.8% $7,411 $14,901 DERBY 53.6% $99,473 $143,541 EAST GRANBY 5.6% NA NA NA NA EAST HADDAM 13.3% $20,585 $34,734 EAST HAMPTON 10.7% $28,126 $56,612 EAST HARTFORD 63.8% $544,703 $670,364 EAST HAVEN 50.0% $174,950 $188,889 EAST LYME 11.8% $23,667 $87,848 EAST WINDSOR 40.6% $55,991 $105,901 EASTFORD 16.0% NA NA NA NA EASTON 2.9% NA NA NA NA

9 District % Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Meals F/R Breakfast Rate Total Breakfast Table by NOT Serving F/R Students Eating Lunch Table by NOT Serving ALL Students Eating Lunch ELLINGTON 10.4% $45,651 $77,906 ENFIELD 36.1% $252,016 $375,480 ESSEX 11.6% $10,177 $16,663 FAIRFIELD 9.0% $135,098 $267,107 FARMINGTON 8.8% $70,469 $126,253 FRANKLIN 18.8% $2,667 $8,444 GLASTONBURY 8.9% $96,859 $210,339 GRANBY 8.7% $29,057 $52,165 GREENWICH 14.8% $166,224 $256,062 GRISWOLD 38.1% $85,497 $105,000 GROTON 46.1% $255,047 $378,755 GUILFORD 8.9% $40,675 $89,062 HAMDEN 40.6% $206,456 $295,983 HAMPTON 29.5% $4,413 $5,450 HARTFORD 84.7% $2,013,502 $2,483,171 HARTLAND 5.4% $2,339 $4,210 HEBRON 6.6% $9,521 $20,969 KENT 14.0% $7,161 $9,995 KILLINGLY 41.4% $119,168 $142,269 LEBANON 16.3% $21,907 $34,726 LEDYARD 20.3% $29,747 $94,211 LISBON 20.5% $11,639 $14,974 LITCHFIELD 13.9% $21,317 $33,063 MADISON 5.5% $23,416 $61,082 MANCHESTER 54.9% $481,395 $573,397 MANSFIELD 24.6% $51,086 $81,290 MARLBOROUGH 8.9% $9,673 $18,602 MERIDEN 69.8% $651,718 $955,404 MIDDLETOWN 45.9% $183,954 $320,326 MILFORD 20.7% $170,744 $239,761 MONROE 7.6% $36,419 $84,635 MONTVILLE 30.5% $88,417 $124,883 NAUGATUCK 40.9% $211,788 $313,699 NEW BRITAIN 80.0% $506,779 $623,872 NEW CANAAN 0.0% NA NA NA NA NEW FAIRFIELD 10.3% $34,748 $70,153 NEW HARTFORD 9.2% $7,967 $15,169 NEW HAVEN 65.9% $651,623 $879,516 NEW LONDON 70.6% $265,112 $451,506 NEW MILFORD 19.9% $147,017 $209,266 NEWINGTON 22.0% $165,310 $224,297 NEWTOWN 5.8% $50,026 $104,022 NORFOLK 15.5% $3,837 $6,047 N. BRANFORD 16.0% $56,047 $83,116 NORTH CANAAN 21.7% $10,391 $21, Hungerford Street Hartford, Connecticut phone: fax:

10 District % Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Meals F/R Breakfast Rate Total Breakfast Table by NOT Serving F/R Students Eating Lunch Table by NOT Serving ALL Students Eating Lunch NORTH HAVEN 12.6% $54,587 $99,431 N. STONINGTON 19.7% $20,024 $25,231 NORWALK 49.2% $863,912 $959,441 NORWICH 73.4% $122,407 $267,599 OLD SAYBROOK 18.1% $0 $30,053 ORANGE 6.8% $13,374 $29,145 OXFORD 7.4% $22,045 $51,092 PLAINFIELD 45.2% $117,865 $143,665 PLAINVILLE 28.3% $96,965 $151,430 PLYMOUTH 23.2% $69,167 $91,943 POMFRET 15.1% $9,200 $11,254 PORTLAND 18.7% $39,820 $61,578 PRESTON 20.9% $12,517 $15,864 PUTNAM 62.7% $2,138 $88,926 REDDING 3.8% NA NA NA NA RD #1 17.8% $10,652 $13,134 RD #4 11.2% $14,987 $26,575 RD #5 4.6% $11,837 $39,561 RD #6 14.0% $14,799 $26,195 RD #7 10.6% $9,553 $10,978 RD #8 9.0% $20,557 $45,149 RD #9 4.0% $18,192 $59,539 RD #10 6.9% $30,647 $74,321 RD # % $11,300 $22,678 RD #12 8.0% $5,689 $12,457 RD #13 6.9% $23,062 $47,985 RD # % $35,471 $61,386 RD #15 5.5% $42,894 $95,170 RD # % $39,176 $80,686 RD #17 9.8% $26,626 $53,078 RD #18 7.3% $17,844 $31,343 RD # % NA NA NA NA RIDGEFIELD 3.0% $15,248 $70,446 ROCKY HILL 11.5% $52,835 $98,988 SALEM 11.2% $8,003 $13,476 SALISBURY 15.4% $6,083 $9,775 SCOTLAND 30.1% $4,583 $8,090 SEYMOUR 26.9% $87,371 $143,022 SHARON 21.5% $7,848 $9,944 SHELTON 21.4% $120,610 $214,845 SHERMAN 4.6% NA NA NA NA SIMSBURY 8.4% $37,597 $103,379 SOMERS 8.1% NA NA NA NA SOUTH WINDSOR 12.1% $74,498 $141,244 SOUTHINGTON 15.6% $85,140 $191, Hungerford Street Hartford, Connecticut phone: fax:

11 District % Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Meals 65 Hungerford Street Hartford, F/R Breakfast Rate Total Breakfast Connecticut Table by NOT Serving F/R Students Eating Lunch phone: fax: Table by NOT Serving ALL Students Eating Lunch SPRAGUE 43.6% $19,255 $26,419 STAFFORD 27.3% $61,029 $78,333 STAMFORD 46.3% $958,112 $1,087,981 STERLING 35.5% $15,762 $14,781 STONINGTON 21.0% $49,426 $87,353 STRATFORD 44.8% $345,095 $484,489 SUFFIELD 11.1% $31,378 $70,832 THOMASTON 26.0% $31,350 $53,397 THOMPSON 29.2% $42,612 $56,248 TOLLAND 6.7% $28,739 $72,604 TORRINGTON 48.9% $285,222 $360,531 TRUMBULL 7.5% $99,366 $192,977 UNION 2.6% NA NA NA NA VERNON 43.0% $141,723 $192,264 VOLUNTOWN 21.1% $8,415 $11,834 WALLINGFORD 19.0% $172,942 $240,913 WATERBURY 82.4% $1,667,559 $2,085,192 WATERFORD 17.2% $62,445 $118,674 WATERTOWN 23.0% $84,903 $160,998 WEST HARTFORD 20.5% $260,934 $398,669 WEST HAVEN 57.9% $351,877 $326,614 WESTBROOK 13.2% $13,212 $22,822 WESTON 2.1% $8,647 $52,822 WESTPORT 3.4% $32,788 $124,372 WETHERSFIELD 19.5% $102,928 $168,597 WILLINGTON 16.2% $17,759 $26,974 WILTON 1.6% $5,761 $39,868 WINCHESTER 55.6% $44,544 $61,744 WINDHAM 76.5% $250,940 $334,466 WINDSOR 34.8% $168,410 $265,685 WINDSOR LOCKS 35.8% $76,275 $105,677 WOLCOTT 20.2% $72,621 $127,722 WOODBRIDGE 5.5% $6,594 $17,320 WOODSTOCK 13.9% $22,370 $37,696 Districts in Red = No SBP in Any School Districts with = 1 School Participating in SBP since SY METHODOLOGY: The School Breakfast data in this report is based on Connecticut State Department of Education unaudited data and meal counts from school year % of Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Meals: The % of students in the district eligible for free or reduced- price meals in October of F/R Breakfast Rate: The number of free and reduced- price lunch participants that ate a school breakfast each day for every 100 free and reduced- price students participating in lunch. A district with 0.0 participation did not participate in the federal School Breakfast Program in school year Total Breakfast Rate: The number of total (paid, free, and reduced- price) lunch participants that ate a school breakfast each day for every 100 students participating in lunch. A district with 0.0 participation did not participate in the federal School Breakfast Program in school year Table by NOT Serving F/R Students eating Lunch: The potential additional federal reimbursement towns would have received last year if free and reduced- price students participating in school lunch also participated in the district s School Breakfast Program. A district with NA did not participate in the National School Lunch Program in school year or district data was unavailable. Table by NOT Serving 100% of ALL Students Eating Lunch: The potential additional federal reimbursement towns would have received last year if ALL students participating in school lunch also participated in the district s School Breakfast Program. A district with NA did not participate in the National School Lunch Program in school year or district data was unavailable. Note: Additional state and federal severe- need funding is not included in these calculations. Funding presented in this report indicates the minimum additional funding available for school breakfast.

12 CONNECTICUT Connecticut No Kid Hungry Campaign End Hunger Connecticut!, in partnership with Share Our Strength, a national organization working to end childhood hunger, launched the Connecticut No Kid Hungry campaign in March 2011, with the support of Governor Dannel P. Malloy s Office. Through innovative publicprivate partnerships, the campaign works to connect children to federal nutrition programs including school breakfast. The Office of Governor Malloy has made increasing breakfast participation a top priority of the Campaign by increasing public awareness and state agency support, which has greatly influenced the increased momentum of breakfast participation in Connecticut. About End Hunger Connecticut! End Hunger Connecticut! is a statewide anti-hunger and food security organization. By focusing on advocacy,outreach, education and research, EHC! serves as a comprehensive anti-hunger resource for community organizations, legislators, and low-income families. To learn more, visit: The best online resource for information on School Breakfast in Connecticut: Photos by: Share Our Strength s No Kid Hungry campaign on pages 1, 4 and 5 End Hunger Connecticut! 65 Hungerford Street, Hartford, CT Phone: n Fax: n