Banking on research that shows breakfast helps students focus, schools offer it for free.
By LETITIA STEIN
Published March 5, 2004
BRANDON - Tuesday morning Chelsie Lopez bypassed the Dr. Seuss birthday special, green eggs and ham, for a sugary buzz. Usually, she's a no-show at school breakfast. But this week was special.
Mom said so.
"She said that FCAT was important, so I had to eat breakfast," said the third-grader, whose score on the all-important state test could determine her promotion to the fourth grade.
Before class, Chelsie snagged a honey bun and a bag of apple juice to cram for the first portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Teachers at Hugo Schmidt Elementary also stashed away a mid-morning test day snack of crackers, cheese and more apple juice.
"Gives them that extra bit of energy in the morning," said Lori Brannon, who oversees student nutritional services at several schools in the Brandon area. "We just figure they need that extra boost to keep them focused, so they're not fidgeting."
Research shows that eating breakfast helps students concentrate in class, improves attendance and reduces visits to the school nurse. And it may boost test scores.
"Your kid needs to be eating breakfast all year," said Mary Kate Harrison, general manager of student nutrition services for Hillsborough County schools.
For years, school officials lamented that too many students did not. Some skipped breakfast in the race out the door. Others could not afford the extra meal.
So about eight years ago, Hillsborough schools began offering free breakfast on testing days. The program expanded until free breakfast became a daily affair last school year.
"The children seem to enjoy it," said Schmidt Principal Bonnie Bullard. "They have some choices, which is good."
Breakfast options range from a hot meal to cereal to breakfast bars. The meals aim to serve one-fourth of the recommended daily calories, although students pick whether it's from eggs and grits or prepackaged treats.
About 40 percent of the district's 182,000 students eat breakfast at school every day. Generally, the freebie rises in popularity during FCAT week.
"If there's a time during the year that parents are good about getting their kids here, it's during FCAT," said Brannon, the Brandon-area supervisor.
At Schmidt Elementary, the honey buns may turn Chelsie into a regular customer.
