The Eos Foundation is a private foundation focused on systemic solutions to end hunger in Massachusetts.
The Eos Foundation is a private foundation focused on systemic solutions to end hunger in Massachusetts.
Our Massachusetts 2025 Breakfast Report Card, Ending Hunger in Our Schools with Breakfast in the Classroom, is a comprehensive new statewide analysis that revealed an immense opportunity for Massachusetts to end hunger in K-12 public schools by instituting Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC).
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press release
initiatives
Breakfast in the classroom grants
Since 2013, the Eos Foundation has provided grants to schools to launch After the Bell breakfast programs, focusing primarily on Breakfast in the Classroom. When done right, BIC typically feeds over 80% of students. Breakfast fuels students to start their day ready to learn, yet often students miss this important meal when it is served before school starts. Making breakfast available after the start of the school day eliminates one of the barriers and ensures that students have access to food.
School Breakfast Report Card
Our school breakfast report ranks the state’s high-poverty schools (those with 60%+ of student populations qualifying for free/reduced-priced meals) on their school breakfast participation rates – a measure of success for alleviating childhood hunger.
Despite the School Meals for All act signed into law by Governor Maura Healey in May 2023, breakfast participation rates among the highest need schools dropped to 48% in SY 24/25, compared to 58% in SY 19/20.
While 584,000 students participate in the free school lunch program every day, only 272,000 access free school breakfast. If lunch and breakfast participation rates were the same statewide, approximately 312,000 additional kids would eat breakfast every day.
Healthy Start Awards
Each year Eos hosts an annual Healthy Start Awards event to recognize schools in Massachusetts that are known to consistently reach 80%+ school breakfast participation rates with a $500 grant. The dedicated efforts of these schools’ administrators, teachers, custodians, school nutrition staff, secretaries, and nurses provide access to a nutritious breakfast for children in Massachusetts’ high-need schools, helping to ensure that students start their school day ready to learn.