Process Analysis of Changes in Universal-Free School Breakfast Programs in Guilford County, NC

In 2007-08, the Guilford County Schools (GCS) in North Carolina offered universal-free breakfasts in their School Breakfast Programs (SBPs) in 26 schools. In 2008-09, the GCS changed to eligibility-based SBPs at several schools, while adding a universal-free SBP at one school. This study qualitatively examined the SBP changes. We observed cafeteria operations, conducted focus groups, and collected program records at the four GCS elementary schools with and at six comparison schools without SBP changes. The schools operated comparable before-school cafeteria programs. Parents in focus groups reported high levels of food needs and valued breakfasts generally and the SBP in particular. Parents from a school that lost a universal-free SBP expressed more negative views, while parents from the school that gained a universal-free SBP spoke more positively. SBP participation fell at the schools that lost universal-free SBPs and grew at the school that gained a universal-free SBP