Education Law

School in the summer

For some students, going to school in the summer is not about re-taking courses or getting better grades. It's about getting something to eat. BoardBuzz covered here our concerns about our nation's students not eating healthy foods while off at day camp or around the house. But recently, The Washington Post reminded us that for some, school is necessary for getting any meal during the day.

Children who qualify for federally subsidized meals are entitled to them year-round. BoardBuzz was pleased to learn about programs in Montgomery County Maryland and Washington D.C. that work to keep students nourished while schools are not in session. In Silver Spring, Md., a school bus is sent out daily to bring students to school for breakfast or lunch, so that they can continue to eat well when school is not in session.

It's not only schools that have the oppertunity to get students their meals. The Post tell us that a variety of organizations can help to expand the effort:

Any organization within reach of low-income families can offer subsidized meals. But state and local governments must make a more concerted effort, advocates say, to expand the federal programs beyond a handful of summer schools and youth groups. Administrators of summer camps, activity centers and churches often don't know about potential subsidies or are put off by the paperwork needed to procure them. Through a law enacted in December, the federal government cut red tape for its summer food program for every state.

BoardBuzz is always interested in nutrition and how it relates to student achievement. These summer food outreach programs are found at schools, community centers, and churches and work to overcome inadequate summer nutrition contributing to students falling behind in academics during the school year. For more information on these programs, check out the article.

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on July 15, 2008 (boomark / email).