Should schools in NH offer free breakfast to all students?

On Tuesday, February 13 a Senate committee heard public testimony on a bill that would require public schools to offer free breakfast to all students in New Hampshire.

About free breakfast

Right now, schools can choose whether or not to offer breakfast. The federal government reimburses schools for each breakfast served. Low income students can enroll in a program for free or reduced price breakfast, which comes with higher reimbursement from the federal government.

Due to all the variables—the cost of staffing, the cost of food, the number of low-income students—the state Department of Education could not estimate the average cost for a school district to implement free breakfast for all students. However, the Department of Education provided the following facts for reference:

Supporters of free breakfast

Supporters of universal free breakfast point to studies that show students who eat breakfast perform better in school and are healthier.

If every student is offered free breakfast, low income students also do not feel stigma. Many low income students do not sign up for free and reduced price meals due to embarrassment.

Opponents of free breakfast

Opponents of the bill argue that a free school breakfast program would be a costly mandate from the state. They argue school districts should be allowed to decide on their own if the costs and benefits of free breakfast are in their schools’ best interest.

Free school breakfast can also be difficult to fit into school busing and classroom schedules.

Do you think schools should offer free breakfast to all students in New Hampshire? Share your opinion in the comments below.

• The average price of a school breakfast is $1.75.
• The federal government reimburses schools $0.30 for each breakfast. If the breakfast is served to a qualifying low income student, the reimbursement increases to at least $1.45.
• There are about 180,000 K-12 students in New Hampshire.