St. Paul, MN - Today, the House Education Policy Committee heard legislation (HF 5) to invest state funds, after the application of all available federal funds, to provide universal school breakfast and school lunch to all Minnesota students, regardless of their family income. Authored by Rep. Sydney Jordan (DFL - Minneapolis), the bill advanced through committee on a voice vote.
“Minnesota is a state that values education and wants to see every child succeed, but that is not possible when 1 in 6 students are trying to learn on an empty stomach,” said Rep. Jordan. “Now is the time for our state to step up and provide the food security families need and the education our students deserve.”
Nationally, students qualify for free meals if their family income is less than 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, and for reduced price meals if family income is between 130 percent and 185 percent of the FPG. This bill would replace the current state funding for school meals with a requirement that the state pay the difference between the federally determined average cost of a school meal and the actual federal reimbursement rate for that meal for all school meals served to students.
More information on the bill can be found here. The bill will next be heard in the Education Finance Committee. Video of today’s hearing is available on the House Public Information YouTube channel.
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