Kids can’t learn if they’re hungry. From meeting a student’s basic needs, to giving them the edge they need to succeed academically, school meals are a vital part of the educational day. Check out the resources below to learn more about the connection between good nutrition and student success.
HOW SCHOOL MEALS CAN SUPPORT SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SCHOOL CLIMATES
Expanding participation in your school meals program can nourish students while simultaneously building social-emotional learning skills. Learn more.
A STUDY ON CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AND BREAKFAST AFTER THE BELL
Schools are facing a crisis of chronic absenteeism: Before the pandemic, nearly 8 million students are missing at least three weeks of the school year. Chronic absenteeism can lead to lower academic achievement, greater risk of dropping out, and worse employment prospects.
In 2019, the No Kid Hungry campaign commissioned a study to examine whether serving breakfast after the bell can reduce chronic absenteeism. The study found that Breakfast After the Bell programs can help reduce chronic absenteeism and improve other student outcomes. Learn more.
STATE SUPERINTENDENT CATHERINE TRUITT ON SCHOOL NUTRITION
In February 2021, shortly after taking office, Superintendent Truitt joined other members of her Department of Public Instruction leadership team for a panel on the importance of school nutrition at the NC Child Hunger Leaders Conference. Watch here.
COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION
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.
GRANTS IMPACT MAP
Since schools first closed because of COVID-19 in March 2020, No Kid Hungry has granted more than $1.5 million in North Carolina alone to schools and other organizations fighting child hunger. The grants impact map shares some of those stories. See it here.
MORE RESOURCES
The No Kid Hungry Center for Best Practices has a wealth of resources on all topics child nutrition. Start here.
CONTACT US
No Kid Hungry North Carolina’s team at UNC stands ready to help. Contact us.
