About 40 Prince George's County schools could implement alternative models for serving breakfast, such as grab-and-go or breakfast in the classroom, as soon as this spring, thanks to a $5,000-per-school grant.

The county school system is one of four jurisdictions in the state to be chosen for the grant, which aims to increase the number of students — both those who qualify for free and reduced-price meals and those who do not — who eat breakfast at school, said Anne Sheridan, director of the Maryland No Kid Hungry campaign.

“[Breakfast] dramatically changes how the school day starts off,” Sheridan said. “Kids are more attentive; they have fewer behavior problems. They start the school day more ready to learn.”

The grant would offer Prince George's up to $200,000 to fund one-time costs associated with starting the alternative breakfast programs, Sheridan said.

More than 22,000 county students take advantage of free or reduced-price breakfast, comprising 22 percent of the students statewide who do so, according to data collected by Maryland Hunger Solutions in the 2009-2010 school year. More than 52,000 county students eat free or reduced-price lunches.

Karyn Lynch, the county school system's director of student services, said school officials are vetting the list of about 40 possible elementary, middle and high schools suggested for the program by the No Kid Hungry campaign.

The list of candidates will be amended based on which schools already have breakfast programs in place, where students are most in need, and which will see other changes next year — as in a new principal or a new academy, Lynch and Sheridan said.

Once the list is set, which Sheridan hopes is in the next couple of weeks, schools can begin using the funding immediately or wait until the fall, she said.

Alternative models of breakfast delivery increase student participation in school breakfast programs by creating a time to eat in the morning and by reducing or eliminating any stigma that may come with eating school breakfast, Sheridan said.

Glassmanor Elementary School in Oxon Hill received a grant last year to implement a grab-and-go breakfast program that prompted a slight increase in the number of students who eat breakfast at school, said Principal Diane Jones. About half of Jones' 245 students now pick up a pancake-wrapped sausage or a box of cereal on the way to their classroom in the morning.

“They're more alert through the day,” Jones said. “They have the nutrition needed to get their day started.”

While the grab-and-go breakfast model reduced the personnel needed to supervise the cafeteria, it also cut into teachers' morning preparation time, Jones said. She adjusted by scheduling paraprofessionals to oversee classrooms while students are eating breakfast.

Jones said she hopes to find a grant that would subsidize the meal costs to make breakfast free for all students in the next school year.

William Wirt Middle School in Riverdale and Forest Heights Elementary School also received grants last year for alternative breakfast programs, Sheridan said.

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