In what may be a sign of the times, state funding cuts may force an end to the free breakfast program in four Frederick County (MD) elementary schools serving preponderately poor students, reports the Fredericksburg Gazette. The schools get funding for the Maryland Meals for Achievement free breakfast program from the Maryland State Department of Education because more than 40 percent of their students are eligible for free or reduced priced school meals.
However, with the state facing budgetary pressures, funding for the program has been reduced, meaning that at present levels, Frederick County will only have enough money to continue the program until April. Frederick County Schools expects to get less than half of the $58,482 it got last year for the program, and alternative ways to make up the shortfall are scarce in the already cash-strapped district.
