State can boost breakfast

It is important to point out that while school breakfast participation is increasing around the U.S. thanks to increased awareness about the role nutrition plays in helping kids be ready to learn for the school day, Washington state lags far behind other states. In fact, Washington has the seventh lowest participation rate of low-income students in the breakfast program. A key factor is lagging administration of the program by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Inadequate training for schools districts resulted in Spokane Public Schools’ problems with the Community Eligibility Provision program that need not have happened if they had received the support they needed when the program started.

Other states have embraced policy changes that break down the barriers cited by Wordell of SPS (“School breakfast program at risk,” Feb. 15); even other districts in this state have found ways to embrace the positive nature of Community Eligibility without losing other education funds.

This year, Pasco, Highline, Hoquiam and Aberdeen school districts added schools to their CEP program. Fixing our education system to work well for all kids is complicated; making sure kids have the fuel they need to succeed is not.

Linda Stone

Spokane