Does the idea of free meals for every student seem like a no-brainer? Kids can’t focus when they’re hungry, it’s as simple as that. And in cities like NYC, where costs are through the roof, how are some families supposed to keep up? Free school meals seem like the least we can offer and it would be great to see it take off across the entire country. I’d love to hear if anyone here sees this differently though.

Our students get a free breakfast and lunch every day. So much more learning can be done on a full stomach. 🙂🥓🍔

100%, and I don't understand how anyone could feel differently. Food insecurity is a real issue for so many kids. A free lunch at least guarantees they'll get one good meal a day, regardless of their situation at home.

We do in MN. I don’t have kids coming to me anymore asking for something to eat or any snacks.

Offering free meals to all students has made such a difference in our district. For me, it feels like an obvious solution. Kids can’t focus if they’re hungry, and we’re already providing meals to some students, so why not make it universal? The financial burden on families in expensive cities is real, and free meals could alleviate some of that stress while benefiting the whole community.

Michigan gives free breakfast & lunch to all. In fact, they serve breakfast during all of 1st hour. I have an elective first hour, sometimes to motivate them, I say if you have X & Y done, go get breakfast & then work on Z while you eat. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Whatever works, and it does!

Free breakfast and lunch here. Too bad it is junk food- full of sugar, carbs with no nutritional value, and no protein. The “fruit” they serve is frozen fruit cocktail type stuff…. The “veggies” are mushy broccoli or frozen mixed veggies that the kids won’t eat. Most of it goes right in the trash. It is a waste of money and unhealthy for out most vulnerable children. I would be all for it if it was fresh, healthy food but it isn’t. It is garbage that the kids don’t eat- or for the ones who do eat it- contributes to childhood obesity and other health problems. Also, I work in a district where the families can afford to do better. This is one more area where we are letting parents “off the hook” by doing something for them and removing the responsibility of feeding their kids from their plates, contributing more to the hands-off parenting style we have going on around here. I know it sounds awful but we are going about this all wrong. I don’t want any child to go hungry. I want people to pay attention to what they are putting into their children’s growing bodies and brains.

I think it's a good idea. Those programs are actually rooted in national security. During WWII a lot of draftees had to be rejected because they'd suffered from poor nutrition as children in the Depression. So the idea came about to have standards for school lunches in postwar America. That history has been forgotten of course, and now you have people who can't sleep at night because the thought of a poor kid getting a meal just makes them miserable.

Some counties in Mississippi serve free breakfast, lunch, and a snack. It really does help .

We have free student lunches in my district in Michigan

We have the program where people can apply to get free or reduced lunches. But not everybody qualifies.

Yes it is a no brainer. I have long thought it stupid that kids have to pay for these meals. THey should absolutely be free for all students.

My district in MN offers free breakfast and lunch. It’s helped a lot. I have fewer students asking me for food, and they do seem to be able to focus more.

It makes me so sad when kids come to school hungry, and so many of them won't ask for food. Usually, if a student comes to me and ask ls for my apple or banana, I'll let them have it. Most of the time you can tell if they are really hungry by the way they are acting. I try tovalways at least have little packs of fruit snacks

Free meals are offered to high poverty schools and students whose parents fit certain income limits