In Rhode Island, we believe that every child deserves access to nutritious food to fuel their learning and growth. Healthy School Meals for All is a policy initiative that ensures all public school students receive breakfast and lunch at no cost, regardless of their household income.
Prioritizing our Children, Families, and Schools
School meals play a critical role in student health, well-being, and academic success. Increasing access to school meals alleviates hunger, supports good nutrition, and positively impacts attendance, behavior, and cognition, particularly in the 38% of RI households with children who are are food-insecure. (2023 RI Life Index)
When all students can eat for free without concern for whether a parent/guardian has provided money for meals or completed a qualified meal benefit application, stress and stigma vanish. The children who need meals the most don’t feel singled out. All students become equal in the cafe. No child should have to prove they are worthy of nutritious food.
Student meal debt in schools across RI has ballooned following the end of the federal free meal program during the pandemic. School districts must often pay off this debt with general education funds when student unpaid meal accounts aren’t cleared. Turning educators into “bill collectors” isn’t compatible with building positive and productive relationships between schools and families.
Federal income guidelines for free/reduced-price meals are nowhere near sufficient to meet the needs of struggling families. The meal benefit application process can also be intimidating, confusing, or shameful for some families.
Schools can better invest in food service programs as a result of greater participation with increased reimbursement. New equipment, staffing, local food, and more wholesome scratch cooking can be budgeted. With less of an administrative burden, programs can spend more time on engaging students in menu development, taste tests, and the cafeteria experience.
Join us in supporting SB 2320 (Cano) and HB 7400 (Caldwell) to make Healthy School Meals for All a reality in Rhode Island. Together, we can ensure that every child has access to the nutrition they need to succeed.