In 2006-2007 school year, the qualifying free and reduced meal percentage for schools to participate in the district’s free breakfast was set at 70%; the percentage was decreased to 50% in the 2010-2011 school year and finally to 40% in SY 2011-2012. The qualifying percentage for schools to participate was lowered to 40% to allow additional sites to take advantage of the program. As the District’s free and reduced percentage climbed to 55%, the School Food Service (SFS) Department believed it was necessary to find additional ways to reach out to families.

The 2011-2012 school year opened with 143 school sites receiving a free 100% Accessible Breakfast Program. The SFS Department is very proud to be able to offer this program to schools to assist with student academic performance; it has long been know that a hungry child cannot learn. Whether a child has food available at home or not, this program puts all children on a level playing field. Studies have shown that children who increase their school breakfast participation as a result of a school breakfast program offered free to all students show improvements in math scores, attendance, punctuality, depression, anxiety, and hyperactivity.

The first graph shows the increase in participation from SY 2006-2007 to SY 2011-2012. The first year of the program we served just over four million breakfast meals and in SY 2011-2012 we served 6,933,778. The second graph shows the schools that were added each year through SY 2011-2012. The goal is to continue to serve as many students as possible, a free, nutritious meal to help them "Power Up With Breakfast".

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