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Saturday, December 15, 2007
N.M. Benefits From Breakfast Program
By
Journal Staff Report
New Mexico has the highest proportion of low-income children eating free and reduced-price breakfasts at school in the country, according to the Food Research and Action Center's School Breakfast Scorecard for 2007.
State Education Secretary Veronica Garcia called the program "key in helping eliminate the achievement gap" by improving student concentration, energy and mental and physical development.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture runs the program, reimbursing schools for providing the breakfasts. About 72 percent of the students who participate eat for free. The rest pay an average of 30 cents.
New Mexico adopted the program in 2004 with a legislative appropriation of $475,000, reaching 80 schools. It was expanded to $1.8 million and 129 schools in 2006. New Mexico is the first state to have more than 60 percent of students who eat lunch eating breakfast as well.
New Mexico moved ahead of other leading states including South Carolina, West Virginia and Kentucky. Illinois, New Hampshire, Utah and Connecticut had the lowest rates.