Fort Worth ISD school reaping benefits of universal breakfast program

Most of us are familiar with the acronym HALT, which stands for Hungry-Angry-Lonely-Tired — a method used by many to self-diagnosis behavioral issues in students. Four Fort Worth ISD schools are attempting to address the “H” by serving up the most important meal of the day once the school day begins.

Sunrise-McMillian Elementary School, whose students mostly hail from economically disadvantaged families, is one of four schools in the Fort Worth district participating in a free universal breakfast program.

Administrators are seeing a difference among their students. In a recent interview with the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Principal Mouton remarked, “Discipline problems are down, and student focus is up.”

In Texas, 54.7 percent of low-income students had breakfast at school in the 2008-2009 school year, the 10th highest in the nation, according to a Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) report.