About the Challenge
The Ohio School Breakfast Challenge encourages
schools to start the day with school breakfast
so all students are ready to learn.
- Attendance
- Behavior
- Classroom participation
- Attentiveness
- Concentration
- Math and reading scores
- Standardized test scores
- Cognitive test speed
- Vocabulary
- Anxiety
- School nurse visits
- Tardiness
- Absenteeism1,2
to increase revenue in the food service department.3
Breakfast Strategies
Customize your breakfast program to service the unique needs of your school.
Breakfast is served and eaten in the cafeteria. A variety of hot and cold menu items can be offered so students get a healthy start to their day. Ohio best practices include Millcreek West-Unity Local
Students pick up breakfast when they arrive at school and it is served in a variety of high-traffic areas such as the cafeteria, hall or entry ways. Ohio best practices include Bright Local, Graham Middle and Southern Local
Students eat together in the classroom and breakfast is delivered by the nutrition staff, students and/or volunteers. Ohio best practices include Garfield Heights City and Logan Hocking
Students get breakfast during a break in the morning after first period or mid-way between breakfast and lunch, similar to Grab ‘n Go. Ohio best practices include Cincinnati Public and Scioto Valley
Breakfast and Beyond Recognition for SY 2022-2023
Breakfast and Beyond recognizes districts or individual school(s) within a district, that demonstrate a collaborative approach and innovative strategies to expand access and participation in school meals.
How to Participate
School Districts will be notified to participate thru survey gizmo beginning in December 2022. Submit stories that
- include plans implemented between September 2022 thru December 2022
- demonstrate collaborative efforts, innovative strategies and practices
- maximize resources to expand and increase access to the school meal programs.
Stories can be submitted anytime between January 2023 thru April 15, 2023.
Recognizing Your Efforts
A selection of stories from around the state will be highlighted and shared on an ongoing basis (February through June 2023) with all Ohio School Breakfast Challenge partners, Ohio Education Associations and their membership, and other education, health and child focused organizations.
Districts submitting stories will receive
- an electronic medallion for use on school menus, website, social media, school district profile & other community focused communications.
- social media messages and a press release to share with their district and the community.
In The News
Leading the Way, the Ohio School Boards Association podcast, featured Breakfast & Beyond Superstar St. Mary’s City Schools. Superintendent Bill Ruane, High School Principal Jonathan Burke, Child Nutrition Director Nicole Rasmussen and District Nurse Deanna Halko shared their story and how the Second Chance Breakfast Program increased breakfast participation by 600% at the middle/high school building.
Now Accepting Applications for 2022-23 Breakfast & Beyond Recognition
2022 Breakfast & Beyond Recognition
Congratulations to the 2022 Breakfast & Beyond “Superstars.” Districts and schools received a medallion from the Ohio School Breakfast Challenge for their excellence, innovative and collaborative work to increase access to school meals. Click here to view all of the 2022 Breakfast & Beyond stories, or click on a school link below to view their individual story.
- Anthony Wayne Local
- Austintown LSD
- Benjamin Local
- Bloomfield-Mespo Local
- Bright Local
- Cincinnati Public-Elementary Schools
- Clark-Shawnee Local
- Elgin Local
- Fairview Park
- Graham Local
- Groveport Madison
- Howland Local-Howland High School
- Midview Local
- New Lexington
- Noble Local-Shenandoah ES
- North Olmstead City
- Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology
- Portsmouth City
- Princeton City
- Ravenna City
- St. Marys City
- Valley Local
Click here for a collection of stories that demonstrates how districts stepped up to the challenge to increase access to school meals during the pandemic.
2020 Champion of School Breakfast Awards
Congratulations to the 2020 Champion of Breakfast Award Winners for their innovative and collaborative school breakfast practices, including their commitment to increasing school breakfast participation and empowering students to make healthy choices. Click here for the list of 2020 Champion of Breakfast Award Winners, and click here for success stories.
2019 Champion of School Breakfast Awards
Click here for the list of 2019 Champion of Breakfast Award Winners, and click here for success stories.
2018 Champion of School Breakfast Awards
Click here for the 2018 Champion of School Breakfast Award Winners, and click here for best practices.
2017 Champion of School Breakfast Awards
Click here for the 2017 Champion of School Breakfast Award Winners and success stories.
Click here for the 2020 Breakfast All-Star Award Winners.
2019 Breakfast All-Star Award Winners
Click here for the 2019 Breakfast All-Star Award Winners.
2018 Breakfast All-Star Award Winners
Click here for the 2018 Breakfast All-Star Award Winners.
2017 Breakfast All-Star Award Winners
Click here for the 2017 Breakfast All-Stars Award Winners.
2016 Breakfast All-Star Award Winners
Click here for the Fall 2016 Breakfast Challenge Award Winners.
Ohio Education Groups Support Breakfast
The Ohio School Breakfast Challenge is supported by more than 25 school and health organizations. Learn why from the following groups:
Brought to You By:
1 Breakfast Intake and Composition Is Associated with Superior Academic Achievement in Elementary Schoolchildren, Journal of the American College of Nutrition Vol. 35, Iss. 4,2016
2 Adolphus K1, Lawton CL2, Champ CL2, Dye L2. The Effects of Breakfast and Breakfast Composition on Cognition in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Adv Nutr. 2016 May 16;7(3):590S-612S. doi: 10.3945/an.115.010256. Print 2016 May.
3 Wellness Impact Report: Enhancing Academic Success through Healthy School Environments – GENYOUth www.GENYOUthFoundation.org
4 2021, U.S. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, Center for Disease Control
5 Section 3313.813, Food Programs-Outdoor Education Centers, 3 (e)
*Annual Total ADP Definition: School Breakfast Annual Average Daily Participation Rates of total students enrolled based on food service monthly claims.
Sign up to take the Ohio School Breakfast Challenge for the 2014–15 school year.
Thank you for signing up.
A team member will contact you within two business days to help determine next steps for your school breakfast program.
