At first, Principal Coyle decided to move the breakfast line to the school entrance, so qualified students could pick up breakfast on their way to class. The natural next step was to continue the program into the school year. At the same time, the Brownsville ISD Food Service Department was preparing to implement USDA's 'Special Assistance Provision 2' program, which offers free meals to all students regardless of family income. In the first year of the program, the Pace cafeteria fed 2,200 students breakfast every day, compared to about 300 served before the previous year. The program's success is due in large part to careful planning, community involvement, and the dedication and cooperation of food service personnel, school administrators, and teachers.
Students help promote the program as ambassadors to the department.
These student ambassadors are also recognized by the School Board. This partnership was organized by the Food Service Department Nutrition Education Coordinator, who solicited help from the school principals to encourage parent involvement in the council. In 1994, the program received USDA's Best Practice Award for expansion of the breakfast program. In the first year of the program test scores in reading, writing, and math all rose substantially. Teachers, some at first apprehensive about the program, agree that the learning environment has greatly improved since the program started.