Res. No. 910-A
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation supporting breakfast in the classroom in every school in New York City.
By Council Members Levin, Chin, Comrie, Dickens, Rose, Vann, James, Garodnick, Jackson, Koppell, Lander, Dromm, Brewer, Rodriguez, Williams, Barron, Eugene, Gentile, Greenfield and Gennaro
Whereas, In 1966, Congress enacted the Child Nutrition Act which allows States to opt into the school breakfast program; and
Whereas, School districts that choose to take part in the school breakfast program receive cash subsidies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and are required to serve a breakfast that meets federal nutritional standards and to offer free or reduced price breakfasts to eligible students; and
Whereas, According to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, children who have a school breakfast program available consume a better overall diet, consume a lower percentage of calories from fat, are less likely to have a low intake of magnesium, and are less likely to have low serum levels of vitamin C and vitamin B9; and
Whereas, School breakfast programs can help reduce the number of children experiencing food insecurity, in turn, resulting in improved school performance and overall health; and
Whereas, According to the National Education Association, when school breakfast programs are served in the cafeteria, before the school day begins, they are often underutilized due to logistical barriers and perceived stigmas; and
Whereas, In 2004, when Newark, New Jersey implemented a breakfast in the classroom program, participation in the school breakfast program increased by 150 percent; and
Whereas, According to Hunger Solutions New York , over half of the students in New York State qualify for free and reduced price school meals, which require the student to live in a household with income less than 185% of the poverty threshold or receive certain types of public assistance; and
Whereas, According to the State Education Department, in New York State only 22% of all students participate in the school breakfast program, and only 32% of students who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals participate in the school breakfast program; and
Whereas, As New York City's school system is the largest in the country with over 1.1 million students and nearly 1700 schools, the New York City Department of Education should prioritize offering breakfast in the classroom to schools with high percentages of students participating in the free and reduced priced lunch programs; and
Whereas, Since every school is configured differently and has different needs, principals should be given the authority to determine how a school administers and participates in the program; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation supporting breakfast in the classroom in every school in New York City.
JW/AES
LS 2581
5/10/2012