65 PERCENT OF TEACHERS SEE HUNGER IN CLASSROOM;
PROBLEM HAS INCREASED IN PAST YEAR
Connecting Kids to Breakfast Is Vital for Academic Achievement
Washington—Two-thirds of teachers across the United States say they have children in their
classrooms who regularly come to school too hungry to learn because they are not getting
enough to eat at home, according to a new national survey released today. More than 60
percent of the teachers surveyed for “Hunger in Our Schools: Share Our Strength’s Teachers
Report” say that the problem has increased in the past year, and many find that breakfast
programs are a key link to students’ ability to succeed academically.
The survey, conducted by Lake Research Partners, contains highlights of a public opinion survey
of 638 kindergarten through eighth-grade public school teachers in urban, suburban and rural
communities nationwide. The study reveals that 65 percent of teachers report that most or a
lot of their students rely on school meals as their primary source of nutrition. This reliance is
widespread geographically, but particularly strong in urban and rural areas.
More than 40 percent of teachers say they believe it is a serious problem that children are
coming to school hungry because they have not had enough to eat at home. In fact, 61 percent
of teachers purchase food for their classrooms out of their own pockets, spending an average
of $25 a month.
“I’ve had lots of students come to school—not just one or two—who put their heads down and
cry because they haven't eaten since lunch yesterday,” said Stacey Frakes, an elementary
teacher at Greenville Elementary School in Madison County, Fla.
However, teachers agree nearly unanimously (96 percent) that there is a strong connection
between eating a healthy breakfast and a student’s ability to concentrate, behave well and
perform academically.
Contact:
Dave Slater 202/649-4332 dslater@strength.org
Theresa Burton 202/478-6522 tburton@strength.org
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