1. Improving Nutrition in Schools Laurence T. Spring Schenectady City School District

2. Schenectady Small City School District 10,000 + Students 17 Schools (19 Campuses) 80% Free and Reduced Lunch Rate CWR of.386 13 Highest Concentration of Childhood Poverty in the Country Student Population –33% Black –33% White –16% Hispanic –18% All Other

3. Critical Tensions Racial Inequity Food Insecurity High Rates of Disability High Rates of Incarceration

4. Schenectady Tensions Racial Inequality Created the Equity and Excellence Committee Disproportionality in Discipline, Achievement, Advanced Course Taking A History of Race Based Difficulties and Conflict Our New Mission: Ensure Race, Economics and Disabilities are No Longer Predictors of Student Achievement 4

5. Food Insecurity 80% of SCSD Students Qualify for Free and Reduced Meals SCSD and Its Partners Distribute over 200 Backpacks of Food Every Friday to Help Families Get Through The Weekend Food Insecurity Contributes to Mental Health Issues like Anxiety and Depression Mental Health Issues are Prevalent in Schenectady, with Many Students Suffering from PTSD 5

6. Food Insecurity Significant numbers of Schenectady Students experience food insecurity Despite very high rates of poverty and food insecurity, a relatively small percentage of students took advantage of free meals –This was especially small at breakfast

7. Schenectady Tensions We Set Out On A Mission Of Equity Our Initiative Is Broad and Bold It Addresses Achievement, Behavior and Attendance We Worked With the Office of Civil Rights, NYU... Regional Partners... CEP and Breakfast In the Classroom Were Small Actions - With Unexpectedly Big Results 7

8. Schenectady’s Breakfast Program K-6 –Breakfast in the room –Most teachers combine “morning work” with breakfast –Students help with food delivery and management 7-12 –Grab n Go –Cafeteria stations

9. Implementation of Breakfast in the Classroom There are difficulties Increased trash Time becomes less discretionary Power & Control Conceptions about the “role” of school Food choices 9

10. Role of the Superintendent Establish Expectation Espouse Values Draw the Theory of Action Cheerlead Problem Solve Apply “Green Tape”

11. Financial Implications Moving to the Community Eligible Option actually increases our revenue Increased students eating breakfast –The majority of whom live in poverty Increased reimbursement rate (factor of 1.6) High rate of poverty increases the leverage of this reimbursement

12. Community Feedback

13. Results Academic Achievement – too early to know Biggest Change is Attendance Elementary 3rd Quarter –2013 38% of K-6 had 95% attendance –2014: 78% of K-6 had 95% attendance –2013: 58% of K-6 had 90% attendance –2013: 91% of K-6 had 90% attendance

14. Results Middle School 3rd Quarter –2013 33% of 7-8 had 95% attendance –2014: 62% of 7-8 had 95% attendance –2013: 52% of 7-8 had 90% attendance –2013: 77% of 7-8 had 90% attendance 14

15. Results –High School –2013 29% of 9-12 had 95% attendance –2014: 56% of K-6 had 95% attendance –2013: 47% of 9-12 had 90% attendance –2013: 71% of K-6 had 90% attendance 15