DONATE

Raise
your hand

for Healthy School Meals for All

Momentum Is Building for Healthy School Meals for All

Healthy School Meals for All ensures all students have the nutrition they need to learn and thrive.

Now is the time to join the movement. Raise your hand for Healthy School Meals for All.

So far, nine states are implementing policies that offer school meals to all students at no charge, regardless of household income.

Icon displaying a hand placing bread on a plate

Image of Healthy School Meals for All map

MOMENTUM.

13+

Million children lived in households that experienced food insecurity in 2023, according to USDA
1 in 6

Households with children struggled to buy enough food for their families in 2021 according to USDA
34K

In the 2024–2025 school year, a family of three would need to make less than $34,000 to receive free meals in most states.
63%

of voters nationwide support legislation that would make free school meals permanently available to all students (according to FRAC public opinion polling).

Children Can't Learn on an Empty Stomach.

As vital as the School Nutrition Programs are to ensuring children’s access to healthy, nutritious meals, too many children in need do not qualify for free meals in states without a Healthy School Meals for All policy.

THE SOLUTION.

Healthy School Meals for All — offering school breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge to families —helps ensure that all children have the nutrition they need to grow and thrive.

We need to continue building on what we know works in order to fuel children’s health and learning.

Tell Congress hungry children can’t wait.

Healthy School Meals for All is also critical for advancing racial equity and justice, ensuring Black, Indigenous and Latinx students get the nutrition they need to support their education and beyond.

SEND EMAIL

By providing healthy school meals for all students, we can eliminate school meal debt and the lunch shaming that can stem from it.

Benefits of Healthy School Meals for All

Children can’t learn on an empty stomach and school meals are just as important to students’ academic success as textbooks and transportation. Free school meals for all students leads to many benefits for students, families and school staff.

Learn More

The Impact of Healthy School Meals for All

Hear from school food service professionals, parents, and teachers on the wide-ranging impacts of Healthy School Meals for All policies.

STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT.

81%

of voters in North Carolina support school meals for all
87%

of Ohio parents of school-age children agree that schools should provide school meals at no cost to all students, regardless of the student’s ability to pay
77%

of registered New York voters support state funding for Healthy School Meals for All.

POLLING.

FRAC conducted public opinion polling in 2021 and found that 63 percent of voters nationwide support legislation that would allow schools to offer meals to all students at no charge. Since then, several states have conducted their own state-specific polling and found public support numbers that are even higher:

More than 70 percent of Minnesota voters – including majorities across every ideological and demographic category – say they approve the state legislature’s decision (in 2022) to provide free school meals to all students, regardless of income.

Eight in 10 Pennsylvanian voters support expanding the state’s free breakfast program to include lunch.

Implementation

Nine states are currently implementing Healthy School Meals for All policies, offering a free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of household income. They include California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, and Vermont. Now that students in those states have access to healthy meals to support their success at schools, advocates are ensuring that the School Nutrition Programs operate as seamlessly as possible. Check out our resources here to learn more about student participation rates, service models, collecting household income information and more in states that have Healthy School Meals for All.

GET INVOLVED.

Looking to start your own state Healthy School Meals for All campaign? Nine states have already shown the country what’s possible by passing Healthy School Meals for All policies—and now it’s your turn. FRAC’s Healthy School Meals for All State Advocacy Guide, is a comprehensive resource designed to support advocates in launching and advancing campaigns in their own states. Explore key strategies, tools, and lessons learned from successful efforts across the country in this step-by-step guide.

TELL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

An Image displaying a stylized version for the Capitol building

BUILDING MOMENTUM.

Across the U.S., parents, teachers, students, doctors, nurses, dieticians, policymakers and many others are raising their hand in support of Healthy School Meals for All. California, Maine, Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico, Vermont, Michigan and Massachusetts have passed Healthy School Meals for All policies. Additionally, Nevada is putting pandemic funds to good use by offering one more year of free school meals to all students during the 2023-2024 school year. Many other states are considering similar legislation. Join us in being part of the solution!

Raise your hand, snap a pic and share your photo!

State Healthy School Meals for All Campaigns

Anti-hunger, education, and child advocates across the country are calling for their state to implement Healthy School Meals for All. Check out their campaign websites here.

Passed! Active Campaigns

California Connecticut

Colorado Maryland

Maine New Jersey

Massachusetts North Carolina

Michigan North Dakota

Minnesota Ohio

New Mexico Oregon

New York Pennsylvania

Vermont Rhode Island

Tennessee

Washington, D.C.

Wisconsin

National Advocacy

FRAC is proud to convene the National Healthy School Meals for All Coalition, a diverse group of national anti-hunger, education, health, school nutrition, and child advocacy organizations dedicated to building support for and passing nationwide free Healthy School Meals for All legislation. Read the Coalition Statement of Support.

News

Young girl with brown pigtails wearing a backpack and holding a school back outside at a school

Universal Breakfast Law Makes Delaware One of Few States Offering Free School Meals (WHYY)

Passed!	Active Campaigns

California	Connecticut
Colorado	Maryland
Maine	New Jersey
Massachusetts	North Carolina
Michigan	North Dakota
Minnesota	Ohio
New Mexico	Oregon
New York	Pennsylvania
Vermont	Rhode Island
	Tennessee
	Washington, D.C.
	Wisconsin

Raise your hand