Breakfast of champions: universal free breakfast, student conflict, and test scores in Texas schools

We investigated the relationship between test scores and discipline outcomes in Texas public schools when schools participated in the Universal Free Breakfast Program (UFB). Using a panel dataset from two administrative sources in Texas, we examine the effects of UFB on violence, substance abuse, truancy, and other classroom incidences spanning school years 2011/2012–2016/2017. By utilizing fixed effects models, a staggered difference in differences model, and a fuzzy regression discontinuity design, we find schools that offer UFB experience higher test scores and reduced conflict outcomes helping their students achieve better outcomes while also increasing their funding from lower truancy rates in high schools.