Back-to- school season is here!
Back-to-school season is about more than preparing classrooms – it’s also an opportunity to strengthen the systems that help students stay healthy, nourished, and ready to learn. Schools have long been at the center of child nutrition through school meals, but they can also serve as trusted connections to other nutrition programs. As you plan for this year’s school year, consider these strategies to expand your nutrition programming while better connecting families with the resources they need.
Make Breakfast Part of the School Day
School breakfast is one of the most effective ways to ensure students start the day ready to learn, but traditional before-school service can create barriers for many children. Breakfast After the Bell models — including Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab-and-Go Breakfast, and Second Chance Breakfast — make breakfast part of the school day, increasing access and participation.
Research consistently shows these models boost breakfast participation, even in schools where meals are already free through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Universal School Meals. Studies also suggest these models can improve attendance, academic performance, and focus, with the greatest benefits seen among students facing the highest barriers to success. By making breakfast a routine part of the school day, schools can help ensure every student has the nutrition they need to thrive from the first bell onward.
If you’re looking for fresh ideas to increase breakfast participation among high school students, our newest resource, Creative Ideas to Increase High School Breakfast Participation, features practical, district-tested strategies shared directly by the school nutrition leaders we met at the conference.
Bring SNAP Into Schools
Schools are uniquely positioned to connect eligible families with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), one of the nation’s most effective anti-hunger programs. Schools are a great place to reach eligible families and children who are not yet participating in SNAP. They’re generally a trusted space for families to learn new information and connect with resources, which makes them a natural partner for outreach. There are many ways schools can raise awareness about SNAP that build on existing communication channels, such as texting caregivers or adding SNAP information to your website.
Our SNAP Outreach in Schools Toolkit features examples of messaging and materials from partners conducting SNAP outreach and enrollment through schools. The toolkit includes customizable scripts, outreach materials, and social media posts in English, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Tagalog, and Vietnamese to help you spread the word in your school community.
Schools don’t have to do this work alone. Many organizations specialize in SNAP outreach and application assistance and make great partners, often your local food bank, community action agency, or a non-profit service provider. The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance provides a great resource to connect you with organizations doing this work in your area.
Strengthen Summer EBT Outreach
Back-to-school season is also the perfect time to reflect on how your school or organization communicates with families year-round. Summer EBT provides eligible families with grocery benefits over the summer months, helping bridge the gap for children who rely on school breakfast and lunch during the school year but lose that daily access once the school year ends. School nutrition professionals and family-facing school staff—including school social workers, community school coordinators, family navigators, and counselors—can help connect families to Summer EBT by sharing program information, eligibility details, and enrollment resources.
Schools can also encourage families who have received Summer EBT over the summer to spend their benefits before they expire as benefits expire 122 days after they’ve been deposited. Once benefits expire, they cannot be restored. The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance keeps the most up to date record of expiration dates for Summer EBT benefits.
Strong school partnerships, clear messaging, and coordinated communication can help more eligible children receive the grocery benefits they’re entitled to when school is out. Our Summer EBT outreach resources highlight practical strategies schools can use to share timely, accurate information with families before benefits are issued each summer. Learn more at otda.ny.gov/summer-ebt/ to check for the latest program timeline as enrollment windows and messaging materials are typically updated each year and can change or expire.
Expanding access to nutritious food takes more than one program – it takes strong partnerships and a coordinated approach. By leveraging schools as trusted community hubs, connecting families to nutrition benefits, and working across education, healthcare, and community organizations, we can help ensure every student has the support they need to learn, grow, and thrive throughout the school year.
