DiDomenico’s Urges Action on Breakfast After the Bell

BOSTON— Senator Sal DiDomenico recently testified before the Joint Committee on Education in support of legislation he filed to fight childhood hunger and boost participation rates in school breakfast programs. S.267, An Act regarding breakfast after the bell, would require all public K-12 schools with 60% or more students eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the federal National School Lunch Program to offer breakfast after the instructional day begins.

“We can have the best teachers, facilities, and technology, but if our kids are showing up for school hungry, they simply are not ready to learn,” said DiDomenico in his testimony before the Committee. “With 1 in 8 kids living in food insecure households, it’s clear that we need to take steps to ensure every student has the nutrition they need and deserve. I would like to thank the Rise and Shine Massachusetts Coalition for their incredible advocacy on this issue and partnership in helping to move this bill forward.”

Massachusetts currently requires all high-poverty schools to provide breakfast to every eligible student. However, because breakfast is typically offered before the bell and in the cafeteria, participation levels are low— at less than 40%— compared to 80-90% participation for free and reduced lunch. Consequently, children are showing up to school hungry and unprepared to learn. Moving breakfast from before the bell to after the bell is a proven, simple, and effective strategy to boost breakfast participation in an effort to ensure that all students are fed and show up ready to learn every day.

This is the second legislative session Senator DiDomenico has filed this legislation. In 2018, the Massachusetts Senate passed the bill with a unanimous and bipartisan vote.

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