Report: New Jersey Bad About Providing Free Breakfast For Eligible Students
PERTH AMBOY, NJ (WCBS 880) -- A report out this week says New Jersey is doing a poor job providing free breakfast for eligible school children.
LISTEN: WCBS 880's Levon Putney reports
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The Garden State ranks 46th in the country when it comes to states taking part in the school breakfast program, but advocates say some schools are working to change that.
In Perth Amboy, breakfast is delivered on a cart to classrooms.
"A kid comes in to school in the morning, into class, picks up his breakfast, picks up his milk, sits at his desk and while the teacher starts teaching, he eats his breakfast and packages the trash back in the bag," said executive director for Advocates for Children of New Jersey Cecilia Zalkind.
Zalkind says it costs nothing extra, so districts not providing enough to eligible kids could follow Perth Amboy's lead.
She says increasing the number of kids getting breakfast statewide would mean more federal dollars.
To see the full report, click here.