Feeding kids is low-hanging fruit
Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui’s proposal to ensure every student in the state has access to nutritious meals while at school should be a no-brainer for legislators of all political stripes. Members of both major political parties have spoken at length about their commitment to fixing Nevada’s K-12 education system to improve classroom performance, make school campuses safer and decrease chronic absenteeism.
Research shows that Jauregui’s proposal can help achieve all of these goals and more.
According to Feeding America, the United States’ largest domestic hunger-relief organization, hungry students are less productive and more prone to chronic absenteeism. Long-term impacts of chronic hunger include delayed development and increased risks of both physical and mental health challenges such asthma, anemia, hyperactivity, anxiety and aggression.
A universal free breakfast and lunch program would help level the playing field of educational opportunity for students from low-income backgrounds.
Not only is the cost of food a barrier for those families, but according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), low-income families in both urban and rural settings are more likely to live in “food deserts” lacking retailers that carry low-cost, unprocessed and nutritious food. Low-income families are also less likely to have access to reliable transportation that could help them reach stores with healthy and affordable options to feed their family.
The USDA estimates that more than 10% of Americans and nearly 1 in 6 American children suffer from chronic food insecurity. Given the volatile nature of the global economy, the department estimates that as many as 1 in 4 American households will face food insecurity at some point during the year.
Long-term, reliable access to nutritious foods should help Nevada students live healthier lives and perform better academically, both of which should promote innovation and future success — all at a relatively low cost to taxpayers.
This isn’t a political issue. It’s in the state’s interests to serve as a backstop for those parents who aren’t able to provide for their kids.
At his State of the State address a few weeks ago, Gov. Joe Lombardo spoke at length about the need to increase school funding and help the next generation of Nevadans thrive. His proposed $2 billion investment in the K-12 education system was a welcome surprise for education advocates who have grown accustomed to Republican austerity. However, even the most optimistic advocates have expressed concern over whether that level of funding is sustainable over the long haul.
The proposed $53 million price tag of Jauregui’s program, however, is a relatively low and sustainable cost for improving student performance and public health while reducing behavioral issues and chronic absenteeism.
A universal free breakfast and lunch program is a simple and low-cost program that would provide the best opportunity for all Nevada students to thrive. It should be passed and signed into law as soon as possible.