It makes no sense that children, who are required by law to attend school, are also required to pay for meals in a place they must be. This adds an unnecessary financial burden on families, many of whom are already struggling with the cost of living. Public education should be wholly inclusive, which means ensuring that every child has the nourishment they need to focus, learn, and thrive throughout their school day.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, around 20% of children live in food-insecure households, meaning that providing essential meals at school might be the only nutrition some children receive during the day. It's critical that we remove this barrier between our children and their education, and this starts with ensuring no child goes hungry in a learning environment.

Furthermore, charging for school meals disproportionately affects low-income families and widens the gap in educational equity. Instead, taxpayer dollars should support systems that prioritize the health and educational success of all students, irrespective of their family's financial situation.

We urge our education policymakers to prioritize a budget reallocation that guarantees free meals for all students attending mandatory schooling. We can take inspiration from countries such as Finland, where school meals are part of the education system funded by the government, ensuring every student has equal access to nutritional meals without cost.

Join us in calling for a shift in policy that prioritizes our children's health and education over financial costs. Let's ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed in a equitable learning environment. Sign this petition to urge lawmakers to make free school meals a reality.