The Effect of Serving "Breakfast After-the-Bell" Meals on School Absenteeism: Comparing Results from Regression Discontinuity Designs
Kirksey, J. Jacob; Gottfried, Michael A. (2021). Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, v43 n2 p305-328 Jun 2021. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1293998
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examining1,036,384Students, gradesK-12
Single Study Review
Review Details
Reviewed: October 2025
- Single Study Review (findings for "Breakfast After-the-Bell" (BAB))
- Regression Discontinuity Design
- Meets WWC standards without reservations because it is a cluster randomized controlled trial with low cluster-level attrition and individual-level non-response.
This review may not reflect the full body of research evidence for this intervention.
Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.
Findings
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Outcome measure |
Comparison | Period | Sample |
Intervention mean |
Comparison mean |
Significant? |
Improvement index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chronic absenteeism |
"Breakfast After-the-Bell" (BAB) vs. Business as usual |
0 Days |
Full sample;
|
8.90 |
16.90 |
Yes |
|
Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.
Sample Characteristics
Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.
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15% English language learners -
Other or unknown: 100% -
Rural, Suburban, Urban
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Colorado, Nevada
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Race Asian 3% Black 5% Other or unknown 92% -
Ethnicity Hispanic 35% Other or unknown 65% -
Eligible for Free and Reduced Price Lunch Free or reduced price lunch (FRPL) 48% Other or unknown 52%
Study Details
Setting
The study took place in 1,883 public elementary, middle, and high schools located in Colorado and Nevada.
Study sample
The study included all students enrolled in the schools. The states required that schools in which at least 70% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch implement the intervention. Fifty-nine percent of the students attended elementary schools, 16% attended middle schools, and 18% attended high schools. Forty-eight percent were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, 15% had limited English proficiency, and 11% were special education students. Thirty-five percent were Hispanic or Latino, 5% were Black, and 3% were Asian.
Intervention Group
Breakfast After-the-Bell is a school-based program that provides breakfast to all students in the school during the early part of the school day. Students may receive their breakfast in their classroom or from the cafeteria after their first class.
Comparison Group
The comparison group included schools with fewer than 70% of students who were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Some of these schools implemented other programs to provide breakfast to students and some may have implemented Breakfast After-the-Bell.
Support for implementation
The study did not provide information about support for implementation.
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For more, please see the WWC Glossary entry for improvement index.
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The sample on which the analysis was conducted.
The group to which the intervention group is compared, which may include a different intervention, business as usual, or no services.
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The number of students included in the analysis.
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The mean score of students in the comparison group.
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Study findings for this report.
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