ERIC Number: ED468005
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2002-Apr
Pages: 94
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Fast Break to Learning School Breakfast Program: A Report of the Second Year Results, 2000-2001.
Peterson, Kristin; Davison, Mark; Wahlstrom, Kyla; Himes, John; Irish, Margaret L.
This report provides Year 2 data comparing two types of school breakfast programs in Minnesota to schools that did not serve breakfast at all (No Breakfast schools): Fast Break to Learning, a universal free breakfast program (Fastbreak schools), and programs with a sliding fee scale (control schools). Data were collected from 30 Fastbreak, 195 control, and 40 No Breakfast schools through mail survey, in-school interviews, and data files. Among the main findings are that the most common student activity during breakfast was socializing. Some teachers expressed concern about the nutritional value of the food served and culturally sensitive menu planning. Bus schedules were cited as a barrier to program implementation. Student participation rates continued to increase for Fastbreak schools, but not in Control schools, and were higher in Fastbreak than in Control schools. Participation rates were higher where breakfast was served after the start of school compared to school where breakfast was served before school. Students in No Breakfast schools had the highest average achievement in mathematics, reading, and writing. Fifth graders in Fastbreak schools showed greater average writing score gains than students in other schools. There were no significant differences in attendance rates between Fastbreak and No Breakfast schools. The average number of morning nurse visits decreased after the breakfast program was implemented but the number of afternoon nurse visits increased. Disciplinary incidents decreased after the breakfast program was implemented. The report includes recommendations to improve participation rates, provide schools with best practice information, and provide more nutritious and culturally sensitive menus. Four appendices include demographic, achievement, and participation data and survey forms. (Contains 41 references.) (KB)
Descriptors: Academic Achievement, Attendance, Breakfast Programs, Child Health, Comparative Analysis, Discipline, Elementary Secondary Education, Literature Reviews, Pretests Posttests, Program Administration, Program Effectiveness, Program Evaluation, Questionnaires, Student Participation
Office of Educational Accountability, University of Minnesota, 1313 5th Street, SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Tel: 612-627-0068; Fax: 612-627-1058; Web site: http://www.education.umn.edu/oea.
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Minnesota State Dept. of Children, Families, and Learning, St. Paul.
Authoring Institution: Minnesota Univ., Minneapolis. Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement.; Minnesota Univ., Minneapolis. Office of Educational Accountability.
Identifiers - Location: Minnesota
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A