Politics & Government

Your Take: Should Schools Be Required To Offer Breakfast?

For the last eight years, Connecticut has ranked last in the nation in the percentage of National School Lunch Program schools that also offer breakfast.

Written and reported by Senior Regional Editor Elissa Bass.

On Friday in East Hartford, a day-long School Breakfast Summit took place.

The Connecticut Breakfast Expansion Team (CBET) organized the meeting because for the last eight years, "Connecticut has ranked last in the nation in the percentage of National School Lunch Program schools that also offer breakfast. Further, only 45% of the low-income students in Connecticut who eat school lunch also eat school breakfast."

According to the Food Research and Action Center, "studies conclude that students who eat school breakfast increase their math and reading scores as well as improve their speed and memory in cognitive tests. Research also shows that children who eat breakfast at school – closer to class and test-taking time – perform better on standardized tests than those who skip breakfast or eat breakfast at home."

The group hopes the summit, the second it has staged, "will help increase the number of Connecticut schools offering the USDA funded School Breakfast Program and educate attendees on the resources available to help launch and maintain a successful breakfast program in their school(s). The event will highlight ways that School Breakfast fosters continued excellence and academic achievement in schools across state."

The Connecticut Breakfast Expansion Team (CBET) is a collaboration of End Hunger CT!, the CT No Kid Hungry campaign, the Connecticut State Department of Education, the School Nutrition Association of Connecticut, the New England Dairy & Food Council, and Connecticut Action for Healthy Kids.

What's your take? Should schools be required to offer breakfast as well as lunch? Do you kids eat breakfast at home or at school? Share your thoughts in the comments.


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