(SPARKS, Nev.) -
February 22, 2017Nevada had the highest percentage increase in school breakfast participation according to the annual School Breakfast Scorecard released yesterday by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), a national anti-hunger advocacy group. The scorecard ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia on participation of low-income children in the School Breakfast Program.
This increase is due in large part to the “Breakfast After the Bell” bill, which was signed into law by Governor Brian Sandoval on June 12, 2015. The bill mandates all Nevada schools with 70 percent or greater free/reduced lunch eligibility implement an option for students to have access to breakfast after the start of school each day. The bill also set aside $2 million in grant money to assist in implementation.
The Nevada Department of Agriculture reports breakfast participation among those qualifying schools in Nevada has doubled, increasing from 20 percent in the 2014-2015 school year to 44 percent in 2015-2016.
“This good news is the accumulation of all the hard work and determination school districts across Nevada have shown,” Catrina Peters, the NDA’s school nutrition services manager, said. “Every student deserves to have a healthy breakfast in the morning, ensuring they are ready to learn.”
The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) promotes a business climate that is fair, economically viable and encourages a sustainable environment that serves to protect food, fiber and human health and safety through effective service and education. NDA includes the divisions of Administration, Animal Industry, Consumer Equitability, Food and Nutrition and Plant Industry.