For the past two months, students at Howard and Ellis Elementary Schools in Niles have been receiving free breakfast through a new pilot program called Universal Breakfast.

Supt. Michael Lindley said the intent is to expand the program to all elementary school buildings in the district by next fall.

“We want everybody to have a nutritious breakfast and be at their best sitting at their desk in the morning and not worrying about being hungry or thinking about what they are going to have at lunch,” he said. “They can be fully engaged in their studies.”

The program, Lindley said, is fully reimbursed by the federal government for schools that have a certain percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Lindley said “basically all of our schools” qualify.

The Universal Breakfast program began in early March and provides every student a complete breakfast at no cost to the student or the family.

Breakfast includes one whole grain item — typically a reduced sugar cereal or breakfast bar — 100-percent fruit juice, fresh fruit and a choice of 1-percent or skim white milk.

Since its inception, program participation has doubled in each building.

“Students who eat breakfast at the start of the school day show a general increase in academic success,” said Lindley. “We are committed to the overall health and wellness of our children and are proud to have the opportunity to offer students and their families a resource that has demonstrated effectiveness in furthering educational goals.”

Breakfast is delivered to the classrooms each morning and students simply grab a breakfast bag before going to their seat. This process eliminates standing in line and expedites the morning process by getting students to class earlier and preparing them for the day’s activities.

According to the Food Research and Action Center, children who have school breakfast eat more fruit, drink more milk and perform better on standardized tests than those who skip breakfast or eat at home. Schools that offer breakfast free to all students in the classroom report a marked decrease in discipline and behavior problems, visits to school nurses and tardiness, an increase in student attentiveness and attendance, and a generally improved learning environment.

“We want to do everything in our power to ensure academic success for our students,” said Dr. Lindley. “Providing a nutritious morning option is a simple proven method to enhance achievement and we are happy to do it.”