PITTSBURGH—Fewer than half of students eligible for free school breakfasts show up for what some call the most important meal of the day.
To increase the number of students eating breakfast, the state Department of Education, with help from some nonprofits and food retailers, is sponsoring a school breakfast challenge, offering cash prizes for those who increase their percentages of participation the most.
The competition kicked off in January and runs through March, and about 1,100 schools are participating.