Universal free school meals drives school meal participation in Michigan

Michigan sees its school meal participation increase thanks to universal free school meals and Massachusetts Senators are looking to secure additional funding for school breakfast. 

Here’s the latest in school nutrition legislation. 

Michigan sees increased school breakfast and lunch participation due to universal free school meals 

The numbers are in, and offering universal free school meals to all students has increased school meal participation in Michigan. 

The number of students participating in school breakfast in the state is up by 26% when comparing the 2022-23 school year to the 2023-24 school year (the year the state first began offering universal free school meals). The number of students participating in school lunch has also increased by 20% when comparing the two years, according to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). 

“Our children need to eat a healthy breakfast and lunch in order to learn,” said State Superintendent Michael F. Rice in a statement. “Access to nutritious meals is good for Michigan students’ health and good for their academic achievement. The Michigan School Meals Program supports Goal 3 of Michigan’s Top Ten Strategic Education Plan, to improve the health, safety, and wellness of all learners.”

The state is one of a handful that have passed legislation allowing all students to receive breakfast and lunch daily at school. 

Fellow states that have established universal free school meal programs have also seen an increase in school meal participation. In Minnesota, for example, over 1 million additional school lunches and breakfast were served each month during fall 2023 (when the state started offering universal free school meals) compared to fall 2022, according to state data.

Massachusetts Senate introduces bill to provide additional school breakfast funding 

The Massachusetts Senate has introduced  S. 2974  which amends H.B. 5077 to provide additional funding for school breakfast in the state. 

If passed, the bill would earmark, $8,700,000 in FY24 supplemental appropriations for the School Breakfast Program. The funds would be available until the end of June 2025. 

The state is one of a handful that provides free school breakfast and lunch to all public-school students in the state. It found that 9 million more breakfasts were served during the first year of universal free school meals compared to the previous year