Breakfast in the classroom boosts school attendance

Serving breakfast in the classroom can boost elementary school students’ attendance, and more students eat breakfast at school when the meal is served in the classroom rather than in the cafeteria, researchers report November 24 in JAMA Pediatrics. The study did not find any differences in reading and math abilities based on standardized-test performance in schools that do or do not serve classroom breakfasts.

While it is not yet clear how the classroom-based breakfast program affects academic achievement, the finding reinforces the positive effects of school breakfast programs and suggests that the classroom-delivery model ensures more underserved students start the day with a healthy meal, the researchers write.