A new bipartisan bill proposed in the Arkansas legislature aims to make public school breakfasts free for all students. Sponsored by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, the bill, SB59, would utilize funds provided by the United States government to cover the costs of school breakfasts. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders also mentioned plans to sustain free lunch and breakfast programs in the state by using medical marijuana funds.
Currently, over 72% of Arkansas school districts offer breakfast in one or more of their schools, with Rogers Public Schools being one of the districts that provides free breakfast to all students. The Child Nutrition Director at Rogers Public Schools, Margie Bowers, stated that state funding would further support students in starting their day right and being ready to learn.
Leaders at the Samaritan Community Center, supporting the bill, noted that over 89,000 people in Benton, Madison, Carroll, and Washington counties face food insecurity. The center offers snack packs for children on weekends and allows families to shop in their grocery store once a month to combat food insecurity.
The bill aims to ensure that all students have access to nutritious food, as currently, 278,000 Arkansas students qualify for free and reduced-price school lunches. This initiative would align Arkansas with other states that already provide free breakfast and lunch to all students.
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