2006-07 School breakfast and lunch programs

Schools and school districts in Wisconsin can contract with the Department of Public Instruction to provide school breakfast and lunch to students for the upcoming 2006-07 school year.

“The School Breakfast and National School Lunch programs meet a vital need. These programs feed hungry children so they can learn,” said State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster. “I encourage every school to participate so our students have access to low-cost meals that help meet their daily nutritional needs.”

During the 2005-06 school year, 2,500 public and private schools served more than 14 million breakfasts and 95 million lunches. About one-third of those meals were served at free or reduced prices for students from economically disadvantaged families.

All students are eligible to eat school meals in schools that participate in the School Breakfast or National School Lunch programs. Students may qualify for free or reduced-price breakfasts or lunches based on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) income guidelines. Applications for free or reduced-price school meals are available at each school and may be made at any time during the school year. Parents or guardians complete a form, providing the names and income from all sources of all household members and the Social Security Number for the adult signing the form. Families that receive FoodShare or Wisconsin Works (W-2) benefits are eligible for free meals or free milk by providing the names and case number for each child on the application. All information is kept confidential and no child will be discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

Schools that do not participate in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast programs may offer milk to students through the USDA’s Special Milk Program, also administered by the DPI.

“Feeding the body, fuels the brain,” Burmaster said. “Studies have shown that students eating these nutritionally balanced meals perform better in math, reading, and other subjects; are more attentive in class; and have better behavior in school. School meals can help our efforts to close the achievement gap and provide a quality education for every child.”

The National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs are federally assisted meal programs operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. They provide nutritionally balanced, low-cost, or free lunches to children each school day. The USDA purchases commodities from farmers, including those from Wisconsin, to distribute to programs nationwide. Wisconsin schools and institutions participating in child nutrition programs administered by the DPI received approximately $180 million in cash and commodity subsidies during the 2005-06 school year to run breakfast and lunch programs.

Information on eligibility for free and reduced-price school lunch and school breakfast can be found on the Department of Public Instruction Community and School Nutrition Programs website at http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/fincou1.html. Scroll to the section on Income Eligibility Guidelines and click on School Year 2006-2007.

Last updated on 7/24/2006