Child Nutrition Web Page U. S. Department of Agriculture Eat Smart. Breakfast Program - Fact Sheet 1. Some 7.4 million children in more than 72,000 schools and institutions start their day with the School Breakfast Program, a Federal entitlement program that provides States with cash assistance for non-profit breakfast programs in schools and residential child care institutions. Teachers have reported that their students are more alert and perform better in class if they eat breakfast.
Studies support that notion.
Children getting school breakfast also had significantly reduced absence and tardiness rates. The School Breakfast Program began as a pilot project in 1966, and was made permanent in 1975. State education agencies and local school food authorities administer the program at the local level. Recognizing the importance of a nutritious breakfast, USDA has actively promoted the School Breakfast Program, and at the same time has made a commitment to improve the nutritional quality of all school meals. Regulations require that all school meals meet the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.