Governor Rendell's Prescription for PA: School Breakfast Proposal

Berry Friesen, PA Hunger Action Center

Multiple research studies have shown that children have the best chance for academic success if they start their days with nutritious breakfasts. While breakfast is traditionally consumed before leaving home in the morning, other factors—such as parents’ work schedules and children’s lack of appetite early in the morning—often interfere. Educators have found that providing a school-based breakfast is a cost-effective way to enhance the learning environment. In recognition of this fact, many school principals make a special effort to provide breakfast for all children on days when school-wide tests are administered.

School breakfast is also a key ingredient in promoting good health and reducing risk of overweight. Eating breakfast lessens the temptation to snack on less healthy food or to overeat at other meals. And for children from low-income families, school-based meals serve the additional purpose of providing food that parents may not be able to.

As part of the 2007-08 state budget decision, the Pennsylvania General Assembly may give breakfast a boost in Pennsylvania schools. In his budget proposal, Governor Rendell included a provision that would require schools in which low-income students comprise 20 percent or more of enrollment to offer the School Breakfast Program. Currently 250 public schools and 100 private schools would be affected by such a requirement.

The governor’s proposal also would seek to improve the quality of food available on school campuses. Currently only meals subsidized by the federal National School Lunch or School Breakfast programs are subject to state or federal nutrition standards. Food sold in vending machines, at student fundraisers or à la carte in the lunch room are subject only to local standards, if such exist. The proposal before the General Assembly would also address this issue. Schools that adopt the PA Department of Education’s Guidelines for Nutritional Standardsfor Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools would receive an increase in state supplemental payments through the National School Lunch Program. This additional supplement would ensure that school food service departments can pay their costs, notwithstanding the loss of revenue some may experience after introducing healthier foods in vending machines and in lunchtime à la carte offerings.

Opposition to these proposals comes from the Pennsylvania School Board Association and the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials. They oppose the requirement that schools offer breakfast as “an unfunded mandate” and they oppose the linking of state supplemental payments to PDE’s Nutritional Standardsbecause it would cause schools to lose revenue from vending and à la carte sales.

Advocates for the Nutritional Standardspoint out that schools more than make up for lost vending and à la carte revenue through increased sales of meals through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs.

The added reimbursement to schools under the Governor’s plan would total $6.5 million in state dollars (an increase of 23 percent) and $23.6 million in federal dollars. And expanded school breakfast would enhance the investments the Commonwealth is already making in education and children’s health. As a private citizen or as a representative of your organization, please let your representative know what you think of H.B. 908. In the Senate, the parallel proposal is S. B 753. Schoolchildren will thank you!