In Illinois, breakfast apparently isn’t such an important meal after all.
In a study released last week, the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC),
headquartered in Washington, D.C., reported that Illinois ranks 51st in
providing breakfast to low-income children, just behind Utah. A previous FRAC
study, conducted in 2005, ranked Illinois 50th in the nation.
Students who receive free or reduced-priced meals the National Lunch Program are
also eligible to receive breakfast under the School Breakfast Program.
Sixty-one percent of Springfield District 186 students are eligible to receive
free breakfast, but only 32 to 35 percent actually participate.
During the 2007-2008 school year, just 33.4 percent of eligible Illinois
schoolkids participated in the breakfast program, compared to 46 percent
nationally. As a result, Illinois forfeited $42.6 million from the federal
government that could have given breakfast to an additional 189,668 students.
“In any time, leaving federal dollars to feed low-income children untapped is
fiscally irresponsible and poor public policy,” the report’s authors conclude. The survey also notes that eating a healthy breakfast can
improve academic performance, as well as reduce obesity and behavioral
problems.
FRAC recommends that the federal government increase funding for outreach
campaigns, establish a free breakfast-for-all program, particularly in poor
schools, raise the income eligibility cutoff for free school breakfast to 185
percent of poverty and eliminate the reduced-price copayment, provide funds to
improve the quality of all school meals and strengthen local school wellness
policies.
Diane Doherty, executive director of the Chicago-based Illinois Hunger Coalition
says: “At a time when more families are struggling and their hardships are increasing,
it is imperative to expand the reach of the School Breakfast Program.”
Mary Ellen Abbott, Illinois Hunger Coalition director for southern Illinois,
believes providing breakfast is now more important than ever.
“Many people think that if a family receives food stamps they can feed their own
kids, but that benefit is only about $1 per day per meal,” Abbott says. “Any meals the children can get at school mean more money for other nutritious
food at home.”
Contact R.L. Nave at rnave@illinoistimes.com.
This article appears in Jan 15-21, 2009.
