57 More Schools Get Free Breakfast

Ehrlich Raises Funding by $1.2 Million

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) has increased funding for the Department of Education's school breakfast program by $1.2 million, allowing 57 more schools to provide government-subsidized meals.

The expansion of the Maryland Meals for Achievement Classroom Breakfast Program will bring to 189 the number of schools involved with the service in the coming school year. At least 40 percent of students in a school must qualify for free or reduced-price meals for the school to be eligible.

"For a variety of reasons, many children do not eat breakfast before going to school, which can lead to loss of concentration, misbehavior, and ultimately poor grades," State Schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick said in a written statement. "By providing children a free school breakfast, more children can focus on learning."

The extra funding increases the state's contribution to the program to $3.1 million. The federal government covers the rest of the cost.

The federal government reimburses schools $1.27 for each breakfast served to students whose families meet the income requirements for free meals, 97 cents for those served to students eligible for reduced-price meals and 23 cents for all other meals.

Even with the new funding, the state will not be able to accommodate all the schools that applied to join the program. Of the more than 600 eligible schools, 211 applied and 189 were selected.

Schools that participated last school year had to reapply.

Most of the schools chosen are in Montgomery, Prince George's and Baltimore counties, which have 23, 22 and 21 schools, respectively, in the program.

"We have many kids who do not eat at home," said Geoffrey Casey, assistant principal of Mills-Parole Elementary School in Annapolis. "They come here and look forward to it every day."

Casey said he did not have data directly linking academic and behavioral improvements to the meals but believes that his school has benefited greatly from the program in the four years it has participated.

"It all starts with the climate of the school and the attitude of the students," he said. "Coming here with a full belly and concentrating on work, that has to have some effect."

The program began in 1998 with six schools. All students at the schools receive a free breakfast, regardless of their parents' income.