HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Education last week announced the return of the Governor’s School Breakfast Challenge in January, aiming to boost participation in the state’s universal free breakfast program and expand students’ access to nutritious morning meals. The announcement comes as the Shapiro Administration reported steep gains in school breakfast participation and recognized two frontline education staff members with the 2026 Pennsylvania RISE Award.
Acting Education Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe said ensuring students have reliable access to breakfast is a foundational part of helping them learn. “Giving learners the tools they need to succeed begins with ensuring their basic needs are met, and breakfast plays a critical role in helping every child start their day on the right foot,” Rowe said. “The Governor’s School Breakfast Challenge encourages schools to increase breakfast participation and make sustainable changes to incorporate more nutritious and local foods.”
The Challenge runs for three months and rewards schools for increasing student participation in the Universal Free Breakfast Program. In the 2024-25 school year, 58 schools completed the Challenge, up from 38 the year before. All participating schools will receive banners, certificates, and a recipe book featuring submissions from Challenge participants.
The top-performing schools this year included Bethlehem Center Elementary in Washington County; multiple North Penn School District campuses in Montgomery County; the Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship in Allegheny County; Minersville Jr./Sr. High School in Schuylkill County; and five schools from the Wallenpaupack district across Pike and Wayne counties. At Wallenpaupack High School, free-breakfast participation increased by 31 percent. At South Elementary, 75 percent of students took advantage of free breakfast.
PDE also awarded $7.1 million in grant funding to 246 schools through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which reimburses schools for offering free fresh produce during the school day. More information and a full list of awardees are available on PDE’s website.
The Shapiro Administration continues to prioritize student access to healthy meals. Pennsylvania served 92.9 million school breakfasts in the past academic year — an increase of over 11 million meals since the year before universal free breakfast took effect. More than 70 million of those meals went to students at risk of hunger or from low-income families.
On Thursday, PDE also honored two school employees with the 2026 Pennsylvania Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award: Antietam School District facilities manager Ken Bonkoski and Butler Area School District bus driver and paraprofessional Kimberly “Ms. Kim” Lokhaiser.
Rowe said the winners demonstrate the powerful role non-teaching staff play in student success. “Mr. Bonkoski and Ms. Lokhaiser go above and beyond each and every day, ensuring students feel seen, heard, and valued,” she said.
Bonkoski is known for maintaining a welcoming learning environment, often arriving before dawn and staying late into the evening. He regularly supports community partners — even helping local churches with snow removal — and trains other facilities staff.
Lokhaiser, a 31-year veteran bus driver who also works as a paraprofessional, is celebrated for creating a positive, comforting environment for students. Known for decorating her bus for holidays and making every child feel welcome, she has also supported academic growth, including helping a student learn to read and assisting another in taking their first steps.
The Shapiro Administration has forwarded both nominees to the U.S. Department of Education for national RISE Award consideration, with winners expected to be announced in the spring. One of last year’s Pennsylvania honorees, Butler Area School District’s Officer Jim Green, received the national award.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.