FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Following the passing of Act 123 earlier this year, public schools across Arkansas will provide students with free breakfast every school day this year, regardless of their eligibility for free and reduced meal programs.
Act 123 was signed into law by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders in February after passing with bipartisan support in the House and Senate.
“That is big because students that are not on free/reduced, or they’re paying students, that sometimes would just come to school and just eat lunch will now be able to eat as well. So we have every child being able to eat a meal free,” said Amy Jefferson, Child Nutrition Director at Fayetteville Public Schools.
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According to the Act, the program will be funded using money from the sales tax and special privilege tax on medical marijuana.
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“We all know if you’re hungry, you can’t learn,” said Jefferson, “If you’re hungry, you’re sitting in there thinking about, ‘oh, I’m hungry.’ Not thinking about what’s being taught to you or what you’re doing at the time. So, to have free breakfast available to you now, kids can come in and they can eat breakfast and then go to class, and they can focus on what’s going on in the classroom.”…