Students Flock to School Breakfast Programs

by Greg Plotkin · 2009-12-30 14:19:00 UTC
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We've talked pretty extensively here at Poverty in America about the need to provide children with healthy and affordable school lunches, but what hasn't been mentioned as frequently is the equally-important, yet drastically under-utilized, national School Breakfast Program.

As the economy has worsened over past two years, more and more families have started to rely on free or reduced price school meals as a main source of nutrition.  In fact, a new report (pdf) released by the Food Research Action Center (FRAC) found that child participation in school breakfast programs increased 6.2 percent during the 2008-09 school year, more than in any year since FRAC began keeping statistics in 1991.

However, the FRAC report also highlights participation problems that are keeping the school breakfast program from being as effective as it could be.  While participation in the program is increasing, it still reaches less than half of eligible low-income children across the country.

Nationally, one in seven schools that offer free or reduced-price school lunches do not participate in the breakfast program.  This leaves millions of children who would otherwise qualify for a free meal hungry, and costs states millions of dollars in federal funding.

In order for a school's breakfast program to qualify for federal child nutrition funding, at least six in ten students who participate in the school lunch program must receive school breakfast as well.  Since the current national rate of participation in the breakfast program is only 46.7:100 (about 47%), the states have lost an estimated $579 million in potential federal funding.

California seems to be the most visible culprit, having lost out on almost $100 million in federal funding and leaving one million children without access to a subsidized school breakfast.  This seems particularly irresponsible for a state facing the worst budget deficit in the country entering 2010.

At a time when more Americans are having to battle against hunger, it's unfortunate to see states not taking advantage of federal money designated specifically to feed the country's children.  Maybe it's time to stop the budget slashing and instead put procedures in place to utilize the money that is already there.

(Photo credit: RichardBarley on Flickr)

Greg Plotkin currently works for Flying Pigs Farm in Shushan, NY. He is dedicated to eliminating inequalities in who has access to healthy food and alleviating hunger.
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