Senate Votes to Provide All Students One Free Breakfast Each Day
LITTLE ROCK – The Senate voted to provide all public school children with a free breakfast, regardless of their income, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.
Also, the Senate passed legislation to restrict students’ cell phone use during the school day.
State budget officials estimate that it will cost $14.7 million a year to ensure that all students get one free breakfast every day. The governor has publicly announced her support of the measure, Senate Bill 59. It is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of 25 senators.
When children go hungry their long-term health is negatively affected, and their grades suffer. Hunger affects a child’s academic performance and increases their chances of being punished for behavioral problems and missing classes, according to testimony before the Senate Education Committee.
National studies indicate that students who have eaten breakfast perform better on standardized tests. Students improve academically in general, and some studies show that they specifically do better in mathematics.
After passing SB 59 the Senate sent it to the House of Representatives, where it has sufficient co-sponsors to guarantee passage.
Currently, students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals depending on their family income. The legislature passed Act 656 in 2023 to prohibit schools from charging students a copayment.
SB 142, to restrict cell phone use by students, also passed overwhelmingly but with a few dissenters who said the measure should also apply to students in private schools. Supporters countered that most private schools already have policies that restrict cell phone use.
SB 142 requires all school districts to adopt a policy to restrict the use of cell phones “from bell to bell.” Its sponsor said the bill’s purposes include eliminating distractions in the classroom and improving the mental and emotional health of young people.
Some students have an individualized education program (IEP) because they have special needs. An IEP may include the use of electronic devices or cell phones. Students with an IEP would be exempt from the restrictions in SB 142.
The state already had been helping school districts with cell phone restrictions. Last year the state provided about $7 million to 180 school districts pay for magnetic pouches and other devices for storing cell phones during the day.
Expanded Child Care
The state Education Department has added 2,600 children to a program that helps families pay for child care, bringing the program to its greatest capacity of about 18,300 student.
According to the department, Arkansas gets about $100 million a year in federal grants to help low-income families pay for child care, thus better preparing them for kindergarten.
Last year the department expanded the program to make more families eligible. The Office of Early Childhood anticipates a waiting list, due to higher demand, beginning this month. However, teen parents and those on welfare, homeless families, children with special needs and foster children will be exempt from the waiting list.