JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Educations officials want more Missouri students to eat breakfast at school.
That's why the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is working with the Midwest Dairy Council on an initiative called the Missouri School Breakfast Challenge.
Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro said in a news release that studies show eating a healthy breakfast improves students' academic achievement, behavior and attendance.
The release noted that 22 percent of Missouri students participated last year in a school breakfast program.
Through the challenge, districts can win cash prizes of up to $4,000 for boosting participation in school breakfast programs.