From Abby Emanuelson, executive director of the NC Alliance for Health; part of the statewide, nonpartisan School Meals for All Coalition NC:
“We are grateful to Governor Stein for making school meals a priority in his recommended budget. The $85 million allocated to the Department of Public Instruction would ensure students in K-12 public schools across our state have access to breakfast at no cost to their families.
We urge the NC General Assembly to continue to prioritize this vital policy measure, thereby ensuring that every child in North Carolina starts their day with a nutritious meal.
Hungry kids can’t learn. Providing students with nutritious school breakfasts at no cost to families makes students more attentive and engaged in the classroom, leading to better grades, higher attendance rates, and higher graduation rates. Based on a recent survey, superintendents and principals statewide overwhelmingly agree: no-cost school meals support student success both in and out of the classroom.
By funding school breakfast for all North Carolina students, the Governor and General Assembly send a clear message that North Carolina cares about its young people and is committed to removing the barriers that stand in the way of their success. To learn more, please visit schoolmealsforallnc.org.”