Oklahoma is one of 10 states targeted for an initiative to feed more students breakfast.
Partners for Breakfast In the Classroom has a $7.5 million grant from the Walmart Foundation to work with districts and schools. Spokesman Scott DiMauro said they'll get funding to buy equipment needed to serve breakfast in classrooms rather than cafeterias.
"By getting this investment in their equipment, [schools] are able to leverage federal resources to make sure that more of their students are being fed," DiMauro said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will supply the food through the School Breakfast Program.
"The meals all have to meet nutritional standards, so we're not talking about leftover cheese and things like that," DiMauro said. "We're talking about well-balanced meals that really help students start their day off right."
According to 2014 figures from the USDA, just one in five eligible students eat free or reduced-price breakfast at school.
"When kids come to school hungry and other needs aren't being met, it's really hard for them to achieve," DiMauro said. "We're really excited, as educators, to partner in this project."
Partners for Breakfast In the Classroom hopes to give 30,000 more students access to a nutritious breakfast, even those who aren’t eligible for it for free or at reduced price.
