Nevada school breakfast program 12th in nation

Nevada has greatly increased the percentage of its public schools participating in the School Breakfast Program during the past year,

with 337 schools participating, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mary Peterson said Nevada is now 12th in participation nationwide.

Nearly 84 percent of the more than 7 million children eating breakfast at school are low income, she said.

The program is designed to make sure that children start their school day with a healthy breakfast. Studies show that children are better able to learn with a good breakfast.

The number of children participating in the program has nearly doubled in the past decade. The federal program is designed to encourage states to offer breakfast at their schools.