HR189

WHEREAS, research has shown that eating three square meals a day boosts a child's performance in school, and the mission of the National School Lunch Program is to ensure that every student has a healthy breakfast and lunch; and

WHEREAS, fewer Hawaii public school students are eating school lunch: in the 2006-2007 school year, only 102,243 students participated in the school lunch program, or 6.6 percent fewer students than in the previous school year; and

WHEREAS, the number of students in the free and reduced-price lunch program has also decreased: in the 2006-2007 school year, only 68,850 students participated in the program, or 4.5 percent fewer students than in the previous year; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is one of the few states where participation in the school lunch program is decreasing continuously; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Education (DOE) remains concerned even though there are many factors that account for the decrease, including more accurate reporting of school lunch participation, higher scrutiny of applications for free and reduced-price lunch, and a small drop in student enrollment; and

WHEREAS, some elementary schools have implemented their own policies to increase school lunch participation, including requiring students to have a note from a parent if they won't be eating in the cafeteria; and

WHEREAS, such policies are more difficult to implement at the high school level; and

WHEREAS, many high school students tend to eat school lunch at a lower rate then elementary or middle school students, especially because they have the choice to skip lunch and eat elsewhere when classes end, but they may be more interested in buying school lunch if offered options other than traditional, planned meals, such as salad, sandwich, and soup bars that are popular at mainstream eateries; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, that DOE is requested to provide guidance to the student councils of each public intermediate and high school, to conduct a survey of their respective student bodies regarding school lunch menu options as an alternative to traditional, planned meals, including options such as salad, sandwich, and soup bars; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOE is requested to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Education.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

School Lunches; Menu Options

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	189
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII