Children Learn Best When Their Needs are Met

 The difference in academics, school attendance, behavior and health between a well-nourished child and a hungry child is profound. An Elementary school in Boca Raton, Florida reported an astounding 80 percent overall increase in Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI), a reading comprehension test by students participating in the Blessings in a Backpack program. Likewise, they reported a respective 31 percent and 29 percent increase in reading and math scores on their SSS diagnostic test given to third, fourth and fifth graders. Similar reports came from another Boca Raton school, where writing scores increased 17 percent and science scores rose by 7 percent. Principal Linda Nelson noted, “There is no doubt that children who are well-nourished do better than those who are not, and this is reflected in our increases for the 2008-2009 school year.” These types of increases are not isolated. Blessings in a Backpack is making a measurable difference in each of its participating schools.

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