Are more Minnesota kids eating school meals since the launch of the state’s free breakfast and lunch program?

Yes.

In 2023-24, the first year of the Minnesota Free School Meals program, the number of children eating school breakfast grew by 40% and the number eating school lunch rose by 15%, according to the Minnesota Department of Education. In the three years covered by the study, schools served over 450 million meals.

The program, signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz in March 2023, provides one free breakfast and lunch to all students at schools that participate in the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program, regardless of income level.

Eligible schools are partially reimbursed by NSLP for every meal they serve and the state covers the remainder. In 2024, the program cost Minnesota roughly $276 million, according to various news reports.

Studies suggest that universal school meals programs contribute to increased breakfast and lunch participation and reduced food insecurity.

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Sources

• Minnesota Department of Education Minnesota Free School Meals: First Year Preliminary Summary
• Minnesota Department of Education Free School Meals for Kids Program
• Waconia Public Schools MN Free Meals
• Minnesota Legislature HF 5
• National Library of Medicine Universal Free School Meals and School and Student Outcomes
• Food Research & Action Center Benefits of School Lunch

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Originally reported by MinnPost by Maddie Robinson. Read the full story at the source.