HR 3277 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to establish a program to improve the health and education of children through grants to expand school breakfast programs, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

July 21, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin (for herself, Ms. BORDALLO, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland, Mr. FILNER, Ms. NORTON, Mr. MASSA, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. SESTAK, Mr. SIRES, and Mr. STARK) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and LaborCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to establish a program to improve the health and education of children through grants to expand school breakfast programs, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Student Breakfast and Education Improvement Act of 2009’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) Findings- Congress finds that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) approximately 60 percent of students in the United States are eligible to receive free or reduced-price school lunches under the school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in fiscal year 2008, 8,520,000 students in the United States consumed free or reduced-price school breakfasts provided under the school breakfast program established by section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) as of the date of enactment of this Act, approximately 83 percent of all public schools in the United States provide 9,500,000 school breakfasts each year under the program established by section 4 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1773) to at least 130,000 students;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) less than 1/2 of the low-income students who participate in the school lunch program also participate in the school breakfast program;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) many students who are eligible for reduced-price breakfasts and lunches can afford only 1 of those meals per day;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) almost 17,000 schools that participate in the school lunch program do not participate in the school breakfast program;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) as of August 2008, over 13,000,000 children, or 18 percent of all children, in the United States were living in poverty, and, in 2007, and 11 percent of households in the United States were food insecure;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) missing breakfast and the resulting hunger has been shown to lower the ability of children to learn and hinder academic performance;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) provision 2 as established under subsections (b) through (k) of section 245.9 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), reduces application and administrative burdens for schools that provide universal free meals;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) schools electing to implement school breakfast programs face significant hurdles, such as start-up costs and lack of participation, that require various additional resources for the best solution;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) school districts that are participating in the provision 2 option described in paragraph (9) have found that the school districts can often provide universal free breakfast in schools with as little as 60 to 75 percent of students who are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals due to the savings realized from reduced administrative costs and improved economies of scale;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) studies suggest that eating breakfast closer to class and test-taking time improves student performance on standardized tests relative to students who skip breakfast or have breakfast at home;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(13) studies show that children experiencing hunger are more likely to be hyperactive, absent, tardy, or have behavioral or attention problems;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(14) students who eat a complete breakfast have been shown to make fewer mistakes and work faster in math exercises than those who eat a partial breakfast;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(15) eating school breakfast has been shown to improve math grades, attendance, and punctuality;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(16) providing breakfast in the classroom has been shown in several instances to improve attentiveness and academic performance, while reducing tardiness and disciplinary referrals;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(17) providing universal free breakfast, especially in the classroom, has been shown to significantly increase school breakfast participation rates and decrease absences and tardiness;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(18) studies suggest that children who eat breakfast have more adequate nutrition and intake of nutrients, such as calcium, fiber, protein, and vitamins A, E, D, and B6;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(19) studies suggest that some students who participate in the school breakfast program or other nutrition programs have a lower body mass index and risk of being overweight; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(20) use of local produce--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) reduces dependence on foreign oil by reducing fuel consumption rates associated with the production or transportation of fruits and vegetables; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) can help to improve the ability of individuals using the procurement system to provide education on nutrition, farming, sustainability, energy efficiency, and the importance of local purchases to the local economy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Purpose- The purpose of this Act is to improve student learning and the classroom environment through expanded and improved school breakfast programs, particularly universal programs provided during the school day.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR EXPANSION OF SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN.

The Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 23. GRANTS FOR EXPANSION OF SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN.

‘(a) Definition of Qualifying School- In this section, the term ‘qualifying school’ means a school providing elementary or secondary education at least 65 percent of the students of which are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches under the school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Establishment- The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall provide grants, on a competitive basis, to local educational agencies or State educational agencies for use in accordance with this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Grants to Local Educational Agencies or State Educational Agencies- The amount of grants provided by the Secretary to local educational agencies or State educational agencies for a fiscal year under this section shall not exceed the lesser of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) the product obtained by multiplying--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the number of qualifying schools receiving subgrants or other benefits under subsection (d) for the fiscal year; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the maximum amount of a subgrant provided to a qualifying school under subsection (d)(3)(B); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) $2,000,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Subgrants to Qualifying Schools-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- A local educational agency or State educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall use funds made available under the grant to award subgrants to individual or groups of qualifying schools to carry out activities in accordance with this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) STATE AND DISTRICT SUPPORT- A local educational agency or State educational agency may allocate a portion of each subgrant to support State or local educational agency activities in support of qualified schools for which it is more efficient or appropriate to support the activities in a centralized manner.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) AMOUNT; TERM-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, a subgrant provided by a local educational agency or State educational agency to a qualifying school under this section shall be in such amount, and shall be provided for such term, as the local educational agency or State educational agency, respectively, determines appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) MAXIMUM AMOUNT- The amount of a subgrant provided by a local educational agency or State educational agency to a qualifying school under this subsection shall not exceed--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) $50,000 for a single fiscal year; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) $100,000 for all fiscal years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) MAXIMUM GRANT TERM- A local educational agency or State educational agency shall not provide subgrants to a qualifying school under this subsection for more than 5 fiscal years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Preference- In providing grants and subgrants under this section, the Secretary, a local educational agency, and a State educational agency shall give priority to qualifying schools--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) in which 75 percent or more of the students of which are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches under the school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) that demonstrate--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) an intent to use the grants or subgrants to establish or support connections between the qualifying schools and local agricultural producers and food providers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) that the qualifying schools have established, or intend to establish, a universal free breakfast program; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) that the qualifying schools have considered, or intend to establish, service methods that make breakfast a part of the school day.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Best Practices- Prior to awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall make available to State educational agencies information regarding the most effective mechanisms by which to increase school breakfast participation among eligible children at qualifying schools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(g) Application-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a local educational agency or State educational agency shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) ADMINISTRATION- In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) develop an appropriate application process; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) advertise the availability of funds under this section to qualified schools, local educational agencies, and State educational agencies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(h) Use of Funds-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- A qualifying school may use a grant provided under this section--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) to establish, promote, or expand a school breakfast program of the qualifying school under this section, which shall include a nutritional education component;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) to increase the quantity of local or fresh food available under the school breakfast program of the qualifying school under this section;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) to provide nutritional education materials to students;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) to extend the period during which school breakfast is available at the qualifying school;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) to provide school breakfast to students of the qualifying school during the school day;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(F) to increase participation in the school breakfast program, including through a universal free breakfast program;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(G) to compensate for receipts no longer collected from reduced and paid breakfasts when operating a universal free breakfast program;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(H) to provide to students first-hand knowledge of food systems, including through--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) occasional activities, such as inviting agricultural producers to speak at the qualifying school or offering student field trips to local agricultural projects;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) integrating food system information into the curriculum (including mathematics and science classes) of the qualifying school; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) collaborating with nutrition experts, food banks, nonprofit organizations, and local farms to develop and integrate relevant service-learning opportunities into classroom instruction; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) to collaborate with local institutions of higher education or other research entities (including hunger advocacy entities)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) to compile data and reports relating to the school breakfast program of the qualifying school; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) to submit the data and reports to the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) REQUIREMENT- Each activity of a qualifying school under this subsection shall be carried out in accordance with applicable nutritional guidelines and regulations issued by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) Maintenance of Effort- Grants made available under this section shall not diminish or otherwise affect the expenditure of funds from State and local sources for the maintenance of the school breakfast program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(j) Reports-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary, in consultation with local educational agencies, State educational agencies, and qualifying schools that receive grants and subgrants under this section, shall submit to Congress an annual report describing the impact of the school breakfast programs of the qualifying schools on and classroom performance and environment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) DATA COLLECTION- The Secretary shall provide guidance and minimum standards for data collection to grant recipients and any collaborating local institutions of higher education or research entities as necessary to ensure that annual reports under this section are able to provide an adequate qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the grant impacts.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(k) Evaluation- Not later than 180 days before the end of a grant term under this section, a local educational agency or State educational agency that receives a grant under this section shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) evaluate whether electing to provide universal free breakfasts under the school breakfast program in accordance with provision 2 as established under subsections (b) through (k) of section 245.9 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), would be cost-effective for the qualified schools based on estimated administrative savings and economies of scale; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) submit the results of the evaluation to the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(l) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink