Colorado’s the latest state to make school meals free for students, a move that could boost grades and improve health.
Tuesday night, voters in Colorado made a decision that could change what being fed looks like for kids across the state — they approved Proposition LL and MM, which fund free meals for all public K-12 students. And they’re going to do it by taxing the state’s wealthiest residents.
It’s a bold move at a time when the nation faces the longest federal shutdown in U.S. history, and food insecurity, especially among students, is coming into sharper focus. If similar legislation gains traction nationally, it could ensure kids across the United States no longer go hungry or rack up lunch debt because they can’t afford a meal at school.
How Do Free School Meals Reduce Educational Inequality?
Free school meals are essential to improving the health and education of Black students, as they represent a much higher share of children who are living in poverty, according to the Food Research & Action Center, a nonprofit that advocates for equitable policy solutions to fight against hunger.
In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, about 66% of Black children and teens received free and reduced lunch compared to roughly 43% of white children and teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, participation was much higher that year because Congress granted school waivers, which allowed them to provide free meals to all students regardless of their income. Congress ended the program once schools reopened.
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