‘Governing for Results’ Series Recognizes Nearly 500 Maryland Schools Meeting School Breakfast Participation Goal

BALTIMORE, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley today visited Franklin Square Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore to share breakfast with students and emphasize gains Maryland schools have made in providing school breakfast to students. The visit is the latest event in the ‘Governing For Results’ series, a statewide initiative to promote the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s 16 strategic goals, with today’s event highlighting progress towards ending childhood hunger in Maryland.

Since the 2008 launch of the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Maryland, the O’Malley-Brown Administration has worked with non-profits, advocates, business leaders, and others to connect more children to federal nutrition programs, including school breakfast. Through private funding, technical assistance, outreach, and increased State investment in the Maryland Meals for Achievement program (MMFA), hundreds of additional schools have connected nearly 70,000 additional children to a school breakfast.

“Increasing access to a school breakfast is one of the most effective actions we can take to prepare our students to learn and achieve every single day,” said Governor O’Malley. “In Maryland, we came together to overcome barriers to participation because we believe that there is no such thing as a spare Marylander and that every child deserves a healthy start to their day.”

Maryland is now serving more than 170,000 free or reduced-price school breakfasts on an average school day, a 65 percent increase since November 2008, and continues to see breakfast participation grow at one of the fastest rates in the country. Franklin Square Elementary/Middle, a participant in MMFA, is one of 475 schools in Maryland that has achieved the Governor’s participation goal of 70 percent.

“Programs like the one here at Franklin Square show how successful breakfast in the classroom can be when a school community makes it a priority,” said Baltimore City Schools CEO Dr. Gregory E. Thornton. “I am proud of our 62 schools that have met the Governor’s participation goal, and Baltimore City Public Schools remains committed to providing our students with the nutrition they need to succeed in the classroom.”

To promote breakfast and incentivize community involvement, late last month, the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Maryland launched the Maryland Breakfast Challenge, a competition open to all Maryland public schools that will reward those that show the largest increases in breakfast participation. The challenge, spearheaded by non-profit Share Our Strength and the Maryland State Department of Education, launched on September 19th with events in 19 of Maryland’s 24 counties.

“We are thrilled at the response we have received to the Maryland Breakfast Challenge,” said Dr. Lillian Lowery, State Superintendent of Schools. “Hundreds of our schools, including those that have already met the Governor’s goal, have signed up and demonstrated their continued commitment to ensuring each child starts a school day ready to learn.”

Principals and administrators can sign up or find out more about the Maryland Breakfast Challenge at marylandbreakfastchallenge.org. Schools have until November 1 to enroll, and winners will be announced in March 2015.