The School Breakfast Program was originally a pilot program that
targeted children from low-income school districts and was intended to
provide a nutritious breakfast to children who might not otherwise receive
one. (Devaney, 1998). To expand availability of the program, the Child
Nutrition Act of 1989 required that the Secretary of Agriculture provide
funds to states to support the cost of starting breakfast programs in
schools in low-income areas. All public and private elementary and
secondary schools in the United States are eligible to participate in the