Article 1:Food Insecurity and Hunger in the Kindergarten Classroom: Its Effect on Learning
and Growth
A study that focuses on a kindergarten cohort to analyze the correlation between food insecurity and achievement/health of children. Researchers looked at physical growth of the children in the cohort in addition to their academic achievement at school. The data showed that children are effected by food insecurity, even at it's lowest level, negatively. Resulting in lower grades and less learning during the school year.
Article 2:Food Insecurity Affects School Children’s Academic Performance, Weight Gain, and
Social Skills
This article provides information and longitudinal research about the affects of food insecurity in children. The target group was brought into the study during kindergarten and remained in the study until the third grade. The results of the study indicated that food insecurity in kindergarten does predict impaired academic performance in children. Gender specific issues were also identified; food insecurity usually led to higher BMI for girls and lower social skills for boys.
Article 3:Poverty and Potential: Out-of-School Factors and School Success
Poverty and Potential takes a serious look at the six out of school factors (OSFs) that affect achievement in our public education system. One of the OSFs addressed is food insecurity. A key fact from this study: proper nutrition in early life gives rise to greater intellectual functioning later in life. The study also noted that there are several children that are at risk of food insecurity including: those below the poverty line, those who live in a single mother home, black children, Hispanic children, those from urban areas, and those from rural areas. Interesting information about school specific programs are also addressed in the study.
Article 4:The School Breakfast Program Strengthens Household Food Security among
Low-Income Households with Elementary School Children
School Breakfasts provided to low income students has long been hailed as a program that fights off food insecurity for most students that face the issue. This study sought to look at the role that school breakfasts in limiting food insecurity for at risk and low income students. Findings included the fact that school breakfasts do help to curb food insecurity for low income elementary school children, however school breakfasts do not help decrease the instances of food insecurity once a family is at the government threshold for the food insecurity designation.
Article 5:Does food insecurity at home affect non-cognitive performance at school? A
longitudinal analysis of elementary student classroom behavior
Also a longitudinal study, this report looks at the development of children who face food insecurity issues. Over the range of their study it was found that food insecurity has a negative effect on the development of children.