More students at public schools are qualifying for free or reduced meal programs. Educators say the programs remain important in helping children learn, but fear they'll be cut back in the governor's proposed budget.
The latest findings from the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI) show more than 41-percent of Wisconsin's students qualify for reduced or free breakfast and lunch. That's up more than 2-percentage points from the last school year, and part of a growing trend that's been happening for seven years.
DPI spokesman John Johnson says this indicates more students are living in poverty.
"One-quarter of our state school districts teach students bodies that are over 50-percent eligible for free and reduced price lunch," says Johnson. "The current budget right now really makes significant cuts for these nutrition programs, 10-percent of the school breakfast and 10-percent of the school milk program was cut."
The proposed cuts also worry Cheryl Peil. She's president of the School Nutrition Association of Wisconsin, and nutrition director for the Elmbrook School District, which has more than 11-percent of its students receiving subsidized meals. Peil says the economy has driven more students to sign up for the program.
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"We've had lots of families who've lost very good jobs and have come forward," she says. "And also in other areas, there's more poverty that has come about because of loss of jobs. We've made great stride in the state of Wisconsin, we used to be in last place for breakfast programs and we've moved up considerably, so we don't want to see that momentum stopped."
The school district which saw the greatest jump from last year was Coleman. Nearly 58-percent of its students qualify for subsidized meals, compared to 45-percent the previous school year.
