The recently released Maryland School Breakfast Report finds tens of thousands fewer kids are being served post COVID. The end of pandemic era waivers two years ago saw schools revert to tiered systems of free or reduced-price meals based on household income. In turn, despite a slightly larger student population, the 2022-23 school year saw the average number of breakfasts served in a day fall by nearly 39-thousand and saw 65-thousand fewer lunches served compared with 2020-21. Maryland Hunger Solutions produced the report and Interim Director LaMonika Jones says reducing the reach of school meals, especially breakfast, takes a toll in the classroom.
"It's challenging for a student at any age to sit in the classroom and focus on what the teacher is trying to share when they're hungry. I understand the argument that it takes away from instruction, but the distraction of being hungry also takes away from instructional time."
The report shows the total number of breakfasts served in the state overall fell by more than 6-and-a-half-million in 2022 vs the year prior.
The report identifies barriers to school breakfast participation including cost, time and the stigma associated with being on a free meal program. Schools with at least 40-percent of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals can opt-in to the state-funded Maryland Meals for Achievement program which offers free breakfast to all students. While traditional school breakfasts are served in the cafeteria before class, Jones says M-M-F-A is an alternative breakfast model that offers greater flexibility.
"Our students are able to either have Grab and Go style, which works really well for our older students. For our little ones, we’re able to have breakfast in the classroom. And having those alternative models in place, as well as the funding to cover the cost of these alternative models, ensures that we're meeting that need. "
This past year saw 588 schools participate in M-M-F-A, up from 485 in 2019.