California kids need your help! Budget leaders will soon be making decisions about how our state funds programs that affect the health and success of California kids. CFPA commends the legislature for investing in our low-income children in the 2016-17 budget by funding the Breakfast After the Bell Expansion grants. In the first year of the program, these grants have been successful in helping schools across California improve access to school breakfast for low-income students. Schools continue to need support to start-up and expand their breakfast programs in order to reach children in need.
Research shows that school breakfast supports academic achievement, attendance at school, and physical and emotional health. Yet, two million of our state’s most vulnerable students miss out on the benefits of school breakfast. Providing breakfast after the start of the school day overcomes barriers for students to access school breakfast. CFPA is requesting one million dollars annually over five years in the 2018-19 budget in order to extend California’s successful Breakfast After the Bell Expansion grants.
By increasing access to school breakfast, that investment will bolster academic achievement and improve overall wellbeing for students on thousands of campuses across California. The state investment will also draw millions of dollars in federal funds directly to California public schools, generating new economic activity and tax revenue.
The budget request is expected be heard by the Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees on Education Finance over the next two months.
Please submit a letter of support to California’s budget leaders. Let them know that students across our state deserve access to the nutritious meals they need to learn, grown, and achieve at their full potential.
Download a sample letter of support and instructions for submitting letters. doc
Questions? Please contact Tracey Patterson at tracey@cfpa.net or 510.433.1122 ext 101.
