Gottheimer Urges Schools to Participate in School Breakfast Program

Press Release

Today, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined with parents, school administrators, child health advocates, and elementary students to highlight the importance of school provided breakfast and the federal dollars available for NJ-5 school breakfasts that have been left on the table, unused to feed our children. Congressman Gottheimer called upon schools to ensure no child in need goes without the breakfast they need.

"No kid in our district should start their days hungry -- and fail in school -- because we aren't taking advantage of a program that we already pay for," said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). "Only 55% of eligible New Jersey students participate in the School Breakfast Program. We are flushing food, money, and our children's futures down the drain because some of our superintendents aren't chasing these forms. We send our tax dollars to Washington and we should be demanding them back for breakfast for our children."

In New Jersey, out of all eligible students who could receive free or reduced cost breakfast, only 55% are actively enrolled. While states like West Virginia and New Mexico have participation rates above 70%, New Jersey is allowing 45% of K through 12 students who meet food assistance requirements to go unmet. To apply, parents must submit their proof of eligibility paperwork, if they are not automatically enrolled which can change from year to year. For parents and schools, this yearly paperwork requirement has led to confusion and lower participation rates. Parents should know that at any time during the school year, they can enroll and withdraw their students into free or reduced meals as their needs change. Additionally, many schools only remind parents and students at the beginning of the school year to sign up - typically the busiest time for families when a form can quickly be forgotten at home or crumpled in the bottom of a backpack. Congressman Gottheimer calls upon schools to continually work with parents to boost enrollment throughout the year, and remind each family that they can enroll their children any time, as needed.

At the event, Congressman Gottheimer discussed strategies that schools, parents, and engaged community members can use to boost participation rates. Specifically, parents who have once utilized the program but did not sign up for the new school year should be a red flag for schools to assist.

"We as teachers know that before you can think about school, you need to have energy so that you can apply yourselves in school. That's why our breakfast and lunch program is so important," said Haceknsack Superintendent Rosemary Marks.

"There's a lot of research that shows it's pretty clear that students whose nutritional status is compromised -- they don't have great nutrition -- eating school breakfasts is linked with all kinds of good outcomes." said Doctor Amanda Birnbaum, Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Health at Montclair State University. "Even if your own child is well-fed, the whole classroom experience will be more effective if all the other children are well-fed. And that is the benefit and beauty of universal breakfast."

"I grew up in this neighborhood. It is a blue-collar neighborhood with a lot of hard-working parents. It's very important that our students get breakfast in the morning, because our parents are sometimes busy trying to get to work and they might not have time to make a healthy breakfast. We rely on our school breakfast daily to make sure that our students get the energy and nourishment they need," said Angelica Carfi-Meneses, a Jackson Avenue parent. "Talking to other parents, getting our forms in is very important. Without secretaries and parents collaborating, this wouldn't happen, we wouldn't have this program."

Video of the event can be found HERE.

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