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In-Classroom Breakfast Benefits All Students
In-Classroom Breakfast Benefits All Students 2/4/13
Ashley Melnick
amelnick@cbs7.com
CBS 7 News
February 4, 2013
ODESSA- Every day, students at Milam Elementary begin their day with a healthy start right inside their classroom.
Milam Principal Staci Ashley said breakfast served in the classroom helps students become more involved and ready for the day.
And it does not cost students to eat breakfast.
The universal breakfast program provides a main breakfast dish along with fruit and a drink.
Third grade teacher Courtney George said she has almost 100 percent of her students eating breakfast every day.
And George knows because she checks a roster every day of who is eating breakfast to make sure no food is gone to waste.
Currently, Texas law requires public and open charter schools, with at least 10 percent of students eligible for free and reduced price meals, to serve breakfast.
ECISD Nutrition Director Terry Gooch said the district has approximately 50 percent of students who qualify for free and reduced price meals, and in their elementary schools, 58 percent of students qualify.
Statewide, about 60 percent of low-income students receive breakfast in school.
So the Texas Food Bank Network is behind State Representative Eddie Rodriguez’s new bill to require all schools to provide universal breakfast in the classroom similar to Milam Elementary.
“This legislation would require a lot of schools with low-income students to offer in-classroom breakfast so they can receive a good breakfast,” said Celia Cole, CEO of the Texas Food Bank Network. “Participation will increase, more federal money will come in and schools will not loose anything.”