Breakfast After the Bell

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER RECOMMENDS:

That the Board of Education (“Board”) amend Board Report 17-0628-PO4, Breakfast After the Bell Policy in response to the required biennial policy review. This policy was posted for public comment from July 26, 2024 until August 26, 2024.

PURPOSE

The Board is committed to supporting the Whole Child through policies and programs that address the physical, social-emotional, and mental well-being of all students. This policy establishes the requirements, based on Illinois’ Breakfast After the Bell Act, for providing breakfast after the official instructional day has begun in all Chicago Public Schools and charters that have opted into CPS meals. This policy seeks to create a school environment that supports breakfast participation by all students regardless of when they arrive at school and encourages students to embrace a morning routine that includes breakfast.

POLICY TEXT

I. Background

Food insecurity and hunger disproportionality impact racial and ethnic minorities. Access to free school meals serve as a tool to reduce these disparities. Research shows that school breakfast program not only reduce hunger but also have a range of positive educational outcomes, including the following:

• Eating breakfast improves math grades, vocabulary skills, and memory. Children who eat breakfast at school – closer to class and test-taking time – perform better on standardized tests than those who skip breakfast or eat breakfast hours earlier at home.
• Students who participate in school breakfast have lower rates of absence and tardiness and exhibit decreased behavioral and psychological problems. Children who eat school breakfast have fewer discipline problems and visit school nurses’ offices less often.
• Children who participate in school breakfast eat more fruits, drink more milk, and consume a wider variety of foods than those who do not eat school breakfast or who have breakfast at home.

II. Implementation

All schools offer breakfast prior to the start of the school day using a variety of models, including in-cafe breakfast. In addition, all schools shall make daily breakfast available to all students after the bell as outlined below:

• Students pick up a breakfast bag in the lunchroom or from another single designated area before proceeding to class.
• School dining staff will work with school administrators to agree on where breakfast will be available to students after the instructional day has started and where students can consume the meal. Eating in the classroom is permissible based on school principal discretion.
• Schools must allow students to access breakfast until 1 hour before the first lunch period.
• Signage must be posted to indicate where and when students can access breakfast after the bell.

III. Authorization to Formulate Guidelines

The Nutrition Support Services (NSS) Executive Director or designee is authorized to revise Guidelines for the effective implementation of the Breakfast After the Bell Policy to ensure compliance with USDA and State regulations in the provision of school breakfast meals. Guidelines will be disseminated to stakeholders annually.

IV. Compliance

NSS will monitor compliance and assist schools in the implementation of Breakfast After the Bell by ensuring schools have the appropriate support through training, guidelines, and equipment.

Failure to abide by this Policy result in penalties issued from ISBE.