Tuesday, March 3, 2026
This week, we are celebrating National School Breakfast Week—a perfect opportunity to spotlight the important role breakfast plays in student success. Research shows that students who eat school breakfast are more likely to have improved academic performance, focus, and behavior; score higher on standardized tests; and even make fewer trips to the nurse’s office.
To mark the occasion, we reached out to food service directors across several districts to ask them about their school breakfast model—including the challenges, successes, trends, and advice. Below are just a few of the highlights of what we heard. Check out the DPI’s official Facebook page to see more from these districts throughout the week.
To learn more about the School Breakfast Program, visit the DPI’s website or contact dpisbp@dpi.wi.gov.
What has been the greatest challenge in serving breakfast? How did you work through it, or what tools would you need to work through it?
“Finding things that the students want to eat and that will bring them back again and again. Additionally, things that are parent approved. We are constantly working on the menu. We have learned that our youngest students prefer more grab and go things and older students want a hearty, protein-filled meal. There has been tons of trial and error. We are not afraid to try new things, even when they fail.”
–Jennifer Kapinus, North Crawford School District
Are there any actions that have increased or decreased your participation rate with breakfast? In hindsight, what would you have changed?
“It seems like every year or two, we change at least half of our menu items to flex with the interest of our students. Participation drives successful meal programs; many factors drive participation. Students as our customers must have their needs met for options and quality of breakfast foods. Classroom staff rely on ready-to-learn students who are not distracted by hunger. Administrators know hungry students are more agitated and more likely to act out causing classroom disruptions. Providing our middle school students with breakfast before school and at a mid-point time—in between the start of the day and lunch—has boosted their overall nutrition intake with high quality breakfast foods, increased breakfast participation from 20% to over 50%, and decreased classroom behavior related referrals to the school principal.”
–Jennifer Spude, Sturgeon Bay Schools District
What’s a piece of advice you’d offer a food service director beginning a new breakfast program at their school?
“Work with their administrators, get their support and buy in. Do your homework, providing research that shows that eating breakfast has a positive effect on academic performance and attendance. Provide menu examples and food samples.”
–Lori Epstein, Stevens Point Area Public School District
What’s the best way administrators can support school breakfast? How did you create “buy-in?”
“Providing space for students to eat, normalizing school meals and encouraging/supporting high quality nutrition options. We created buy-in by providing what students want to eat with a high-quality spin and connection to local growers. Our school administrators are proud of our school meal programs!”
–Jennifer Spude, Sturgeon Bay Schools District
Tell us what you feel the biggest benefit of school breakfast is.
“We are proud of our breakfast menu and the items we serve for breakfast. We don't serve sugary breakfast bars, pancakes or French toast to our elementary students. We allow some options at the middle and high school, but as a district do not offer packaged French toast or pancakes at all … We want students to see these items as they would be if they are making them at home. We really do try to focus our menu around yogurt, eggs, and other protein options as much as we can. It's hard with our budget, but it's also the knowledge that by serving higher protein items our students will stay fuller longer. Knowing we are setting them up for success by making sure they don't have grumbling tummies at 9 a.m. is a great feeling.”
–Melanie Hanneman, Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools District
“Providing another tool for all students to be the best learners they can be.”
–Jennifer Spude, Sturgeon Bay Schools District
“We know that at North Crawford a lot of our families face food insecurities, it's very rewarding to be able to supply our students with a healthy start to their day. No matter what is on the menu, we always have fresh fruit. We are proud that we can offer that along with a host of other things. No matter what, our goal is to feed students, and we want every meal to be healthy for them!”
–Jennifer Kapinus, North Crawford School District
“Having the opportunity to support our students' successes. Our team greets our students each morning, preparing and serving a nutritious breakfast that fuels their mind and body making their learning day easier, healthier, and more productive in the classroom. Students that eat a well-balanced breakfast have improved academic performance and improved test scores.”
–Lori Epstein, Stevens Point Area Public School District
“School breakfast really gives us another chance to connect with the kids during the day and to encourage them to eat their fruits/vegetables. Eating healthy keeps away the sick days!”
–Laura Du Chesne, St. James Lutheran School, Shawano