The $100 discount will be applied to the materials and service fee charged by public schools, as part of $18.5 million in cost-of-living support for families in next week's State Budget.
Additionally, a school breakfast program will be expanded in government schools, with more than $6.5 million to be spent over the next four years to provide an extra one million meals to South Australian children.
The program provides free breakfast to students at a range of schools through KickStart for Kids and Foodbank SA, with research showing that one in three school students skip breakfast sometimes or often, while one in 10 skip breakfast every day.
Research also shows that students who skip breakfast are less engaged at school compared to their peers who eat breakfast every day.
Clovelly Park Primary School Principal Terena Pope said the program supported around 60 students at the school to get breakfast five days a week.
“This support enables us to offer a great range of food options - including cereal, fresh and tinned fruit, bread, butter and spreads, sandwiches and milk – which ensures the students are ready to learn when the school day begins,” Ms Pope said.
“The breakfast program is an important part of our school as it supports a wide range of families, promotes volunteering and service to others and positively contributes to the health and wellbeing of our students.”
The program will continue to be delivered to schools currently receiving the program, while also being expanded as a priority to schools facing the greatest disadvantages.
Foodbank SA CEO Greg Pattinson said increased cost of living was by far the single biggest cause for children facing food insecurity.
“Over the past 12 months 52 per cent of households with children experienced food insecurity at some stage during the year, and there are now 78,000 children living in severely food insecure households in SA,” Mr Pattinson said.
“Foodbank is facing similar cost increases for the basic food items that it buys for its school breakfast programs, and so financial support from the South Australian Government is essential to ensure that our children continue to get the start to the day that they need.”
KickStart for Kids CEO and Founder Ian Steele said demand for its breakfast program had "never been stronger".
"We have seen an increase in the demand for breakfast product by around 70 per cent from last year," Mr Steele said.
A grant program will also be offered to public schools with the most need, offering the chance to establish community gardens, buy kitchen equipment for cooking classes and other initiatives that promote healthy and low-cost meal options.
