#SchoolBreakfast

21MM U.S. kids get free/reduced-priced lunch | Only 1/2 get breakfast, even though eligible

Please join Mrs. Stephanie Leach, Principal as she leads a conversation regarding Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC), later this morning, September 11th in the Multi-Purpose Room at 8:15a. Please come for answers to your many questions!

Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) will begin for everyone at Eagle Rock Elementary on September 23rd. Our school or any other school for that matter cannot opt-out; however, participation is not mandatory as no student is ever required to take any meal offered by LAUSD Food Services Division (breakfast or lunch). 

LAUSD has a total K-12 enrollment of 664,233 students (as of Oct 2011), second to NYC of whom there are:

• Low-Income Students: 450,394
• School Breakfast Participation: Low-Income Students: 124,426
• School Lunch Participation: Low-Income Students: 238,173
• % of Low-Income Students Who Participate in School Breakfast: 28%
• % of Low-Income Students Who Participate in School Lunch: 53%
• Source: BreakfastFirst.org
  

This leaves over 300,000 students (up to 400,000 depending on the data sources) throughout our school community (Eagle Rock and beyond) that are potentially not having breakfast...which is the target audience.  Additionally, this is district wide, K-12 so even our older students can get access to nutrition if they can't at home, whatever the reason.

According to the LAUSD, many teachers are using this "breakfast time" for business as usual, like collecting homework and taking attendance while others use it to teach students about health/nutrition, sustainability and recycling or simply having the kids read or do other school work.

Whether these are the most nutritionally valuable foods to eat depends on our views as parents; however, LAUSD adopted the USDA Healthier US Challenge nutrition standards – the program promoted by First Lady Michelle Obama in Let’s Move campaign to reduce childhood obesity.  Interested to know what's being served? You can always access the school menu here. 

Lastly, food waste can be minimized once the program is implemented at ERE, considering that the number of meals served will be adjusted as student participation is assessed.

Please click the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) to learn more...

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