Denver Public Schools (DPS) launches Start Smart, a new DPS Universal Breakfast Program, which offers breakfast at no charge to all students regardless of income, at schools where breakfast is currently served. More than 11,000 students now start their mornings with a DPS breakfast. The district hopes Start Smart will significantly increase this number in order to
help students be better prepared for academic success.
“Here at DPS, we recognize that a nutritious breakfast helps students pay attention and concentrate on learning new skills,” said Leo Lesh, executive director of DPS Food and Nutrition Services. “With Start Smart, we hope to increase student participation in school breakfast and continue improving student, classroom and school performance throughout the district, supporting the district’s overall goals to improve student achievement.”
In developing Start Smart, Denver Public Schools tapped the expertise of on-staff nutritionists and dieticians to revise breakfast menu offerings. DPS will also test a variety of delivery strategies, such as breakfast in the cafeteria or classroom, and “grab-and-go” options, whereby bagged food is served from a variety of locations throughout the morning.
In addition, within six pilot schools, DPS will expand its communication in both English and Spanish on the importance of a healthy breakfast by providing student-friendly nutrition information in the cafeteria; offering nutrition education in the classroom; and encouraging staff and families to participate through newsletters, the Food and Nutrition Services’ Web site, parent-teacher meetings, community forums and other methods. These efforts are first being
tested in Castro, Newlon, Oakland, Archuleta, Knapp and Fairmont elementary schools.  Lessons learned from this pilot effort will be used to refine outreach methods, with the goal of future expansion into additional elementary schools as well as middle and high schools.
"If our kids are hungry, they aren't able to focus on their learning," stated Superintendent Michael Bennet. "Start Smart provides the healthy breakfast kids need to be successful at school each day."
The revised breakfast menu includes items such as a breakfast wrap with eggs and salsa, hardboiled eggs with cheese toast, waffles with peaches and vanilla yogurt and breakfast biscuits. Students can also choose from a variety of fresh fruits, cereals with low or reduced sugar content, juices, milk and homemade toast. In the cafeteria setting, DPS will also be creating “Breakfast Baskets” that will provide all the essential elements to a healthy morning meal. These will change daily and demonstrate healthy food groupings for students.
Denver Public Schools receives funding for Start Smart through the DPS Department of Food and Nutrition Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture School Breakfast Program (SBP).