The Washington State Legislature eliminated the co-pay for reduced price breakfast in the state's schools this year by providing an additional appropriation of $1 million for the program. Eliminating the co-pay for eligible students has been associated with substantial increases in reduced price breakfast participation. A comparison of statistics from September and October 2005 and the same months in 2006, identified dramatic differences in the number of students eating breakfast this year. In the 271 districts with available data for these periods, 215,079 more students participated during September and October 2006 (37% increase over 2005 participation). Twenty districts reported that the number of students eating breakfast more than doubled.

Washington is the only state in the country that has eliminated the co-pay for reduced price breakfast. The results experienced this fall will be provided to the state legislature to demonstrate that the co-payment requirement for USDA meal programs is a deterrent to student participation. The Washington School Nutrition Association is working to ensure continuation of the co-pay elimination for reduced price breakfast. The Association has also mounted a campaign to request support from the legislature to eliminate the co-payment for reduced price lunch. Eliminating the co-pay for both meals would create a two-tier system with students eating either free or for full pay.

Target Audience: Students eligible for reduced-price meals in Washington

For More Information:
George Sneller, Director
Child Nutrition Services
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Washington School Nutrition Association - Legislation