Broward County Public Schools (BCPS), the nation’s sixth-largest school district, announced that it will continue to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students for the 2024/2025 school year. Funding for the meals will come from several programs, including Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), Universal Free Breakfast, and the Universal Free Lunch Program Pilot Year 2.
Several research studies connect access to healthy breakfasts and lunches to academic success for school-aged children. These studies typically focus on the impact of school meal programs, nutrition quality, and their effects on cognitive function, behavior, and academic performance.
A 2013 study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that children who ate breakfast regularly performed better on cognitive tasks, such as memory, attention, and problem-solving. Children who skipped breakfast or ate low-nutrient meals had reduced cognitive function throughout the morning.
A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasized that schools offering nutritious meals through programs like the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program are positively associated with academic achievement.
The CEP offers free meals to all students at 180 eligible schools, where at least 40% of students qualify for federal assistance programs, including SNAP and Medicaid. Families at these schools do not need to fill out an application for meal benefits.
For the remaining 47 non-CEP schools, the Universal Free Lunch Program Pilot Year 2 ensures that all students receive free lunches, regardless of eligibility. Families at these schools are encouraged to complete an online Meal Benefits application to help sustain the program and potentially access more district benefits. Universal Free Breakfast will also be available at these 47 schools.
In its announcement, the school district noted that it “continues to prioritize student health by providing more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-sodium options, as well as expanding vegan and vegetarian choices.”