Advocates are urging Congress to implement a nationwide policy that allows schoolchildren in 8 states to have access to free school meals.

Amber Lightfeather can rest assured that her children will not have to worry about the source of their next meals when classes start again after Labor Day. The meals will be provided free of charge.

Starting this academic year, Minnesota, New Mexico, Colorado, Vermont, Michigan, and Massachusetts will provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students, regardless of family income. This decision follows the lead of California and Maine, and it is being considered by several other states. Additionally, there are congressional supporters who aim to expand this initiative to offer free meals to all children across the country.

Lightfeather, a resident of Duluth, Minnesota, and a parent to four children attending public schools, shared that her family has occasionally met the criteria for free or discounted meals. However, due to a recent change in Minnesota’s policy, they would have been required to pay for school meals in the upcoming academic year. Lightfeather and her husband’s combined income from their respective jobs as a hospital worker and tribal employee would have exceeded the eligibility threshold. In the previous year, the family had been paying more than $260 per month to cover the cost of school meals for their four children, who are currently aged 10, 13, 16, and 17 and have hearty appetites.

She had such a strong conviction that she provided testimony in support of Minnesota’s school lunch bill during its presentation to the Legislature last winter. Students expressed their gratitude towards Gov. Tim Walz, a former teacher, by hugging him when he officially enacted the law at their elementary school in Minneapolis in March.

Lightfeather expressed that upon discovering the news of its approval, tears welled up in their eyes. Their testimony was not solely for the sake of their own children, but for the betterment of every child who could potentially gain from it.

During the peak of the pandemic, schools across the country provided complimentary meals to everyone, resulting in a significant increase in participation. However, when the federal assistance ended in spring 2022, most states returned to offering free or reduced-price meals exclusively to eligible children. Consequently, this excluded families who did not meet the poverty criteria, further stigmatized those who did, and contributed to the accumulation of school meal debt.

“I cannot reword”

In New Mexico, discussions about the connection between poverty and academic achievements have been ongoing among educators and policymakers. The majority of students in the state were already qualified for free or discounted meals prior to the enactment of the recent legislation in March.

However, Albuquerque Public Schools experienced a sudden surge in engagement. Moreover, during the initial week of the current academic year, which commenced this month, there was a daily increase of 1,000 students partaking in breakfast and lunch.

At Lowell Elementary in Albuquerque, the cafeteria was buzzing Tuesday as dozens of students lined the lunch tables with bright blue trays filled with veggies, rice and teriyaki beef.

Lorraine Martinez, the secretary at the school, mentioned that certain children would experience stomach cramps or dizziness due to insufficient food intake.

She stated that now everyone possesses the necessary sustenance such as food, water, and milk to meet their nutritional requirements.

Families in different states may continue to face difficulties in affording school meals. Annette Nielsen, the executive director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center in New York City, mentioned that parents may have to spend $1,500 per student per year on breakfasts and lunches.

“Do we not desire children to excel academically and receive nourishing, wholesome meals during their education?” Nielsen inquired. “I believe it is the minimum effort we should make.”

The first two years of the program received more than $440 million from the Minnesota Legislature, even though Republicans expressed concerns about providing subsidies to families who can afford to pay. Honer, from the Minnesota Department of Education, expressed optimism about the high number of private and charter schools intending to take part.

Stacy Koppen, the nutrition services director for St. Paul Public Schools, mentioned that this year her district is able to provide universal meals at 60 schools. This is an increase from the previous year, where only 40 schools qualified for a federal program that offers free meals to all students in schools with a significant number of lower-income families.

She mentioned that you can simply attend school and concentrate on acquiring knowledge.

The new legislation is advantageous for Minnetonka, a prosperous suburb of Minneapolis. Superintendent David Law stated that prior to the pandemic, approximately 8% to 10% of the district’s students were eligible for free or reduced-priced meals. Additionally, many families who did not qualify still faced financial constraints and were unable to afford $20 per week per child.

Law mentioned that it is advantageous that serving breakfast has become obligatory. Previously, his schools faced difficulties in finding enough staff for part-time lunch-only positions in the food-service department. However, now that the working hours have increased, these jobs have become more appealing and his cafeterias are almost fully staffed. Law believes that having more staff and receiving additional funding from the state will contribute to enhancing the quality and diversity of the meals.

Law expressed optimism that the outcome would be beneficial for everyone involved.

Education officials in New Mexico have stated that the recent legislation has resulted in over 3,000 extra students gaining the opportunity to avail of free meals. Furthermore, as part of the new law, schools in New Mexico are now obligated to enhance their kitchen facilities, enabling them to prepare a greater quantity of homemade food.

Alexis Bylander, a senior policy analyst at the nonprofit Food Research & Action Center in Washington, D.C., stated that progress is being made. She mentioned that certain states have taken steps to make meals more affordable, albeit gradually. For instance, Connecticut is utilizing federal stimulus funds to provide free meals to additional students this year. Pennsylvania has plans to offer free breakfasts. Illinois recently enacted a policy for free school meals for all, although funding for its implementation was not included. Additionally, New York City and several other local communities independently provide universal free meals.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar reintroduced a bill in May to extend universal free meals to every state. While it’s unlikely to advance in this divided Congress, Bylander said it lays out a vision of what is possible.

Bylander stated that although the eight state policies are commendable and there is an expectation of more being enacted soon, the focus is on urging Congress to implement a nationwide policy to ensure that every child receives the same advantage.

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The report was made by Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico.