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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Survey of teachers finds hunger among students is greatest in rural areas, and is growing

Almost three-quarters of rural teachers say they have students who come to school hungry, says a report from a nonprofit organization working to end childhood hunger. "Hunger in Our Schools: Share Our Strength's Teachers Report," commissioned by a nonprofit affiliated withn the American Federation of Teachers, reveals that 73 percent of rural teachers report there are students in their classes that come to school hungry, compared to 66 percent of urban teachers and 57 percent of suburban ones. Around 46 percent of rural teachers and 41 percent of urban teachers said hunger is a problem for their students; 35 percent of suburban teachers said so.

The reliance on school meals for nutrition is particularly strong in urban and rural areas; 72 percent of urban teachers and 62 percent of rural teachers say that most or many of their students rely on school meals. Rural teachers placed the highest priority on their local schools addressing child hunger, with 86 percent saying it should be a priority. The percentage of rural teachers who felt there were children coming to school hungry because they didn't get enough food at home was up to 73 percent, from 64 percent in 2009.

"Share Our Strength, a nonprofit organization working to end childhood hunger in America by 2015 through its No Kid Hungry Campaign, will be supporting innovative breakfast initiatives in 2011 by awarding $525,000 in grants," the organization writes in a news release. "These grants will focus on promoting alternative breakfast models—such as breakfast in the classroom, 'grab-n-go' breakfast and secondchance breakfast (breakfast after first period)." (Read more)

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