Here’s Why Minnesota Schools Get Free Meals

(MINNEAPOLIS) — In February, Minnesota House lawmakers passed a bill granting free school meals to all Minnesota students from kindergarten through 12th grade. This bill is part of a larger effort to tackle child hunger and food insecurity. According to Feeding America, one in fifteen people faces food insecurity, while one in eleven children faces hunger problems.

“This is fundamentally a bill that is about feeding kids,” said Representative Sydney Jordan, the bill’s author. “It’s a bill about happy and healthy families in Minnesota. And it’s making sure our kids can learn.”

Minnesota became the fourth state to sign the Universal School Meals bill into law on March 17. The bill will provide children with free school meals regardless of financial limitations placed by a federal program.