Schools encouraged to take the Wisconsin School Breakfast Challenge

Effort aims to increase the number of school breakfasts served by 50 percent

The Department of Public Instruction, in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Extension, is encouraging all schools in Wisconsin to participate in the School Breakfast Challenge. The goal of the state challenge is to increase the number of school breakfasts served by 50 percent during the 2008-09 school year. Schools that have the highest percentage increase in breakfasts served will be recognized in the fall of 2009.

The state challenge aims to continue recent growth in the number of school breakfasts served to students in Wisconsin. "Wisconsin schools served nearly 1.8 million more breakfasts in 2007-08 than in the 2006-07 academic year, and we have now seen three consecutive years of growth in breakfasts served," said State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster. "A hungry child can't learn. It is encouraging to see that our school breakfast programs are helping end hunger in the classroom, so students can concentrate on their classes."

The DPI and the UW-Extension have worked collaboratively to help school districts implement or improve school breakfast programs throughout the state. Through this challenge, the partnership will continue efforts to help increase school breakfast participation by 50 percent in existing school breakfast buildings or to help implement a school breakfast program in school sites that currently do not offer breakfast. Succeeding in this challenge represents investing in the future of school children by providing them with a nutritious meal that will help them succeed in school.

U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl also stated his support of the Wisconsin School Breakfast Challenge. As chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture Appropriations, Kohl initiated a Wisconsin grant program to help local schools begin and enhance school breakfast programs. The Kohl breakfast grant program has delivered $4.7 million in funding to Wisconsin schools since 2001. Kohl also introduced a bill to authorize grants for the establishment or enhancement of school breakfast programs nationwide.

Additional information is available in the complete news release as well on the Wisconsin School Breakfast Challenge and School Breakfast Program websites.

Last updated on 11/11/2008 11:37:21 AM