By: Diego Romero

The COVID-19 pandemic was not only a stressful time for parents and heads of their respective families but also a very depressing and concerning time for students. Students were unsure when they’d be back in school, and many depended on school for the nutritional meals they offered. During the pandemic’s economic uncertainty, the Trump Administration offered free school breakfasts and lunches for all students. During this time from 2020-2022, all states offered free meals for their students. This bill expired in the summer of 2022, and since then universal school meals have become another topic that Democrats and Republicans can’t see eye to eye on. 

When Vice President Harris announced Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, universal school lunches once again became a national focus in the news. As of today, there are only 8 states that offer completely free school meals for their students (FRAC, 2024). One of these states is Minnesota, the state where Tim Walz is governor. Around 28 other states and districts have legislation in work to support universal school meals (Sheldon, 2024). 

The benefits of these programs have been evident. It’s been proven that the nutrition in these free school lunches leads to better performances in class (Severson, 2024). It also helps families who barely miss that 185% limit that was previously mentioned. These families are caught in a peculiar situation; they have just enough money to not be eligible for free or reduced school lunches, but they do not have enough to afford the regular school meal prices. Studies also indicate that 1.5% more kids were facing food insecurity and shortages in states that don’t offer universal meals (Salahi, 2024). So then the question must be asked, why aren’t all states offering universal school meals?

Source: Tracy Matsue Loeffelholz (2024), The Nation, Every School Child Should Eat Free

Using Gov. Tim Walz’s Minnesota as an example, the cost of free meals for students has skyrocketed in the last year. In a school district in the state, the number of students who received a free lunch jumped by an astonishing 30% (Severson, 2024). This led to Gov. Walz warning lawmakers to adjust the cost and spending of universal school meals by $81 million over the next two years. The significant funding it would take for universal school meals is a very big deterrent as to why these states are hesitant to pass this kind of legislation. 

There is also the belief that allowing free school lunches for all would take away from the needy and give free services to families who don’t need them. The fear of a “massive taxpayer-funded food stamp expansion for those who do not need it” (Terryberry, 2024) is a palpable feeling across the conservative party. They feel that giving these kids who do not need free lunches would be a wasted expense. Economically, there is an uncertain feeling about how free school lunches would change a local economy, especially those that rely on the funds of the existing system.

Regardless of whether or not it would make political or economic sense to implement universal school meals, it is without a doubt a benefit to all students. It ensures that, regardless of familial income, every student is getting a nutritious meal. Studies show that with a universal free meal program, participation in school lunches increases drastically. Free and accessible meals lead to healthier and happier students.

References

Food Research & Action Center. (n.d.). Healthy School Meals For All. Frac.org. https://frac.org/healthy-school-meals-for-all

Salahi, L. (2024, August 13). Why are most states holding back on free meals for school kids? Association of Health Care Journalists. https://healthjournalism.org/blog/2024/08/why-are-most-states-holding-back-on-free-meals-for-school-kids/

Severson, K. (2024, August 13). Why Are Free School Lunches Becoming a Campaign Issue? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/13/dining/free-school-lunch-programs.html

Sheldon, M. (2024, April 9). States that Have Passed Universal Free School Meals (So Far) – *Update*. NYC Food Policy Center (Hunter College). https://www.nycfoodpolicy.org/states-with-universal-free-school-meals-so-far-update/

Terryberry, P. (2024, March 26). The School Meal Free-for-All is a Bad Deal for States and Students. The Foundation for Government Accountability. https://thefga.org/research/school-meal-free-for-all-bad-deal-for-students/