LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – After a gubernatorial proclamation, March 4-8 will be considered “School Breakfast Week” in the state of Michigan, mirroring the National School Breakfast Week (NSBW).

Gov. Whitmer: Feeding students helps them concentrate on learning.

“There’s a reason we tell our kids that breakfast is the most important meal of the day—it helps them focus in class so they can learn and grow,” said Governor Whitmer in a statement. “This School Breakfast Week, let’s celebrate our bipartisan work to deliver free breakfast and lunch for all 1.4 million public school students in Michigan. I am so proud we got it done in last year’s balanced budget, and I am proud to have included funding to feed two free meals at school again in my budget proposal this year. By feeding our students, we can help them concentrate on learning and growing in class instead of worrying about an empty stomach. Let’s also save parents $850 a year on groceries per kid and valuable time every morning.”

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Gov. Whitmer shared how the School Breakfast Program also supports Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan Goal 3 to improve the health, safety, and wellness of all learners.

“More than 65,000,000 school breakfasts were served to students in the previous school year free of charge by school nutrition professionals who worked relentlessly to improve the health and wellness of learners while helping to ensure food security for all students,” according to Gov. Whitmer.

Last year, the state’s budget included free breakfast and lunch for 1.4 million public school students in the state.

“A healthy breakfast at the start of the day is a great way to ensure students are nourished and ready to learn,” said Dr. Michael Rice, Michigan State Superintendent. “National School Breakfast Week helps us educate parents, students, and the community about all the nutritious and delicious choices that schools offer.”

What is National School Breakfast Week?

National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) launched in 1989 to raise awareness of the availability of the School Breakfast Program, a federally assisted meal program operating in public and non-profit private schools and residential child care institutions since 1975 according to the School Nutrition Association.

This year’s NSBW theme is “Surfs Up with School Breakfast” and encourages school breakfast with nutritious foods including: one cup of fruit, whole grains, and a cup of fat-free or 1% milk.

Michigan’s efforts to provide more food for students.

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According to the Michigan Department of Education, studies show that students who eat school breakfast are more likely to:

  • Reach higher levels of achievement in reading and math.
  • Score higher on standardized tests.
  • Have better concentration and memory.
  • Be more alert and focused.
  • Attend school daily and experience less acute illnesses.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.

In Gov. Whitmer’s sixth budget proposal released in early February, she shared that she is seeking $200 million to continue providing universally free breakfast and lunch to Michigan’s 1.4 million public school students. She said ti will help students focus on learning and save the average family $850 per year.

For more on the Fiscal 2025-26 Budget, see here.