School breakfast access in Anson County will be expanded by a new grant program, a news release from the governor’s office says.
The Breakfast After the Bell Initiative is a partnership of the No Kid Hungry School Breakfast Leadership Institute and the governor’s office and will be implemented in 10 school districts across the state. Anson was among those chosen, the release said.
Gov. Roy Cooper and his wife, Kristin, said they are committed to ending childhood hunger in the state. The grant, they say in the release, helps ensure students have access to breakfast, and want to see the efforts expanded to support the academic, social-emotional, and health benefits that eating breakfast brings.
The grants, funded through No Kid Hungry and The Dairy Alliance, total $105,000, with each of the 10 districts getting approximately $8,000 to $12,276.
The other districts chosen were Cabarrus County Schools, Cumberland County Schools, Edgecombe County Schools, Gaston County Schools, Johnston County Schools, Kannapolis City Schools, Public Schools of Robeson County, Wayne County Public Schools, and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.
The criteria for choosing these districts was set by the N.C. School Breakfast Leadership Team using Department of Public Instruction meal claim data for 2017-18.
The release said Breakfast After the Bell models include:
• Breakfast in the Classroom: Students eat breakfast in their classroom after the official start of the school day. On average, schools reach 88 percent breakfast participation with this model.
• Grab and Go to the Classroom: Students pick up conveniently packaged breakfast items from mobile carts in high traffic areas, such as hallways or entryways, and eat their meals in the classroom or designated common areas.
• Second Chance Breakfast: Second Chance Breakfast is particularly effective for middle and high school students. Students eat breakfast during a break in the morning, often between first and second period. Schools can use an innovative breakfast service model or open their cafeterias during this break.
The implementation and progress of the program will be handled by the school nutrition managers. Administrators will provide support, the release said.
In North Carolina public schools, nearly 60 percent of students qualify for free and reduced meals. Only 42 percent eat a school-offered breakfast.
School districts will get help from the School Breakfast Leadership Institute to take advantage of federal funds, grant opportunities and other resources.