School Breakfast Challenge
Eating breakfast at school helps children perform better in the classroom.
Research finds that students who eat breakfast attend more days of school and score 17.5 percent higher on math tests. More days in the classroom and higher test scores set students on a path to graduate and earn higher wages.
While the federal government helps subsidize the costs of breakfast for many students, the
traditional model of serving breakfast in the cafeteria before class often does not reach all the students who need it. Only a little more than one-half of Rhode Island kids who depend on school lunch start their days with school breakfast. That leaves almost 28,000 kids in Rhode Island who come to class hungry every morning.
Alternative breakfast models offer an opportunity to feed more children by making breakfast more convenient for students. By making breakfast a part of the school day, participation in school breakfast dramatically increases because it is convenient and accessible to all.
The Challenge
What is the Rhode Island Challenge?
From Monday, November 6 through Friday, May 4, 2018, the Governor, First Gentleman, and Commissioner Wagner will challenge schools across Rhode Island to increase their participation in school breakfast programs.
As more kids participate in school breakfast, chances for winning will increase!
Statewide Goals
- Ensure that all Rhode Island students receive adequate breakfast
- Get more districts and schools in Rhode Island to take advantage of breakfast, afterschool, and summer food programs
- Help schools identify creative approaches to supporting innovation in breakfast models and out-of-school meals programs
How can you get involved?
We welcome sign ups from superintendents, principals, teachers, and school or district nutrition staff. Anyone interested in enrolling their school or district can join by filling out a brief form. We will follow up once we review your application.
How could you increase participation at your school?
Alternative breakfast models, such as Breakfast on the go, can help increase breakfast participation at your school or district. Click on “Resources for Schools” for more information on how you can implement an alternative breakfast model, or for other resources and materials.
Challenge Categories
- The “Breakfast Champions” Category for all schools (any type) that achieve a 20% increase in breakfast participation and have adopted an alternative delivery model
- 1 “K-8 Challenge Winner” for the K-8 school that improves breakfast participation the most across the state (schools that have already adopted innovative models are eligible)
- 1 “High School Challenge Winner” for the high school that improves breakfast participation the most across the state (schools that have already adopted innovative models are eligible)
For additional information on the categories, please review the Additional Challenge Details section on this page.
On October 13, Commissioner Wagner announced the Rhode Island Breakfast Challenge at the RI Healthy Schools Coalition Breakfast for School Wellness event.
Timeline
- Monday, November 6 through Wednesday, November 15, 2017: Kick Off Events and Challenge Announcement
- Monday, November 6 through Monday, December 4, 2017: School Application Submission
- Monday, December 4, 2017: Challenge Measurement Begins
- Friday, May 4, 2018: Breakfast Challenge Concludes
- Early June 2018: Winners Announced
Join the Breakfast Challenge