House Bill 2134 would require certain public schools to offer breakfast in the classroom
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – In an effort to assist children residing in households struggling with food insecurity, State Rep. Cora Faith Walker, D-Ferguson, filed legislation that would require public schools, including charter schools, to offer breakfast in the classroom to their students regardless of their family’s income level, the students’ attendance record or preferred mode of transportation.
“We’ve all heard the saying, ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day,’ but it holds especially true when it comes to the education and development of our children and youth,” said Walker.
According to Operation Food Search, 18.6% of children in Missouri – nearly 1 in 5 children – live in households that struggle with hunger, as many families have limited access to adequate types and amounts of food. Lack of proper nutrition affects cognitive, social and emotional development, and children who struggle with food insecurity are more likely to have problems learning, growing and interacting. Additionally, a little over half of children from households who are eligible for free or reduced-price breakfast through the federal School Breakfast Program are eating it.
“Unfortunately, interfering bus schedules, students and parents losing track of time in the morning or simply not being aware of the School Breakfast Program are a few of many reasons why students don’t eat breakfast in the school cafeteria,” said Walker. “Stigma around the School Breakfast Program also plays a role and bullying can be a factor.”
“To truly fight child hunger in Missouri, we need innovative and collaborative solutions. House Bill 2134 proposes to improve the traditional school breakfast approach by moving it to the classroom. By removing some of the barriers that currently exist in the traditional approach, this bill aims to help make breakfast available to every child, which can help improve students’ concentration, alertness, comprehension, memory and learning. No child should be prevented from learning, growing and developing because they are hungry. House Bill 2134 is one way we can work to support and nurture a healthy educational environment for Missouri’s youth.”
