# Advertising on Report Cards McDonald's Offers Happy Meals for Good Grades By Going Like Sixty | Published 2007-12-10 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-marketing-report-cards References: [inventorspot](http://inventorspot.com/articles/report_cards_advertising_9035) More advertising in schools, or less? All over the U.S., administrators are having to answer this question. "Earlier this month, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood demanded that McDonald's immediately stop advertising on children's report cards," Inventor Spot said. McDonalds not only smeared their branding all over report cards at a Florida elementary school, it also offered free Happy Meals to students who received good reports, that included their grades, attendance and attitude. Budgets are being cut, and a big company like McDonalds comes forward to pick up the tab for an expense in return for a marketing message. Is putting a message on report cards going too far? ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.1/10 - Popularity: 47% | Activity: 9% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/branding) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Advertising in Schools:** Schools may need to find alternative ways to generate revenue, while advertisers may find new channels to market their products. - **Marketing to Children:** Companies may need to balance the ethical considerations of marketing to impressionable minds against their bottom line objectives. - **Corporate Sponsorship:** More companies may explore ways to support schools through sponsorships, while schools may need to find ways to maintain academic integrity while accepting funding. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Education:** School administrators and marketers alike must carefully navigate the ethical implications of advertising in schools. - **Fast Food:** Fast food companies may find new opportunities to reach young consumers through non-traditional channels, such as report cards, while also engaging with local communities through sponsorships. - **Marketing and Advertising:** Marketers may need to be aware of the potential backlash from aggressive advertising tactics in sensitive areas and may need to explore more creative ways to connect with target audiences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Syllabus-Themed QSR Meal Deals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-food-deals.md) - [Cartoon Card Qsr Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pikachu-promo-cards.md) - [Playful Adult-Oriented QSR Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/adult-happy-meals.md) - [Mental-Health Awareness QSR Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/happy-meal-box.md) - [Nostalgic Kidult Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/happy-meals-for-adults.md) - [Scented Fast Food Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scented-billboard.md) - [Creature-Collecting Kids Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pokemon-happy-meal.md) - [Candy-Inspired School-Centric Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smarties-u.md) - [Food Truck Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/food-truck-billboard.md)