1. Understanding
Educators’ FAQs
Breakfast in the Classroom and similar innovative “Breakfast After the Bell” service models have been making an impact for a long time. Many schools tried them for the first time during pandemic restrictions, but their benefits apply to any school year. Learn more in this Educators’ FAQ.
School Meals Can Fight CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM
Schools are facing a crisis of chronic absenteeism: Even before the pandemic, nearly 8 million students were missing at least three weeks of the school year. A 2019 study found that serving breakfast as part of the school day — a.k.a. Breakfast After the Bell models, such as serving it in the classroom, or having it available to grab and go from kiosks throughout the school — can reduce absenteeism by an average of 6 percentage points. Learn more.
See more academic and social-emotional benefits of school meals.
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and Title 1
Is your school or district taking advantage of one of the best tools available for increasing access to free meals for students? Make sure you know the facts about the Community Eligibility Provision, or CEP, including how it does — and does not — impact Title 1 funding. Learn more.
School Nutrition Profiles
Using data from meal claims submitted to the NC Department of Public Instruction, the Carolina Hunger Initiative creates local profile sheets providing an overview of child nutrition programs and showing how many children received meals through them in North Carolina. The profiles provide a snapshot of the economic benefits and nutrition access challenges and are a great way to introduce yourself or others to these important taxpayer-funded programs in your area. Find them here.
2. Planning
Choosing the Right Breakfast After the Bell Model
Innovative breakfast service can look different from school to school based on the best fit for that age group, building, and staff. Learn about the basic types of Breakfast After the Bell.
3. Funding
New grant opportunities are forthcoming later this year. Write to us at [email protected] to let us know you want to be among the first to hear about them.
4. Implementing
Implementation Resources
Go deep with these implementation resources from No Kid Hungry, including Pre-Implementation Checklist, Rollout Timelines, and Equipment Tip Sheets.
5. Advocating
School Meals for All NC
No child should go hungry in North Carolina. Every child in every public school in North Carolina should have access to breakfast and lunch at school at no cost to their families. Join the coalition and help us make it happen.