A proposed $3 billion reduction in federal funding for school meal programs could leave over 280,000 Ohio students without access to free breakfast and lunch. The cuts are part of a budget plan being considered by the Republican-led US House Ways and Means Committee. If passed, the change would raise eligibility requirements for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a federal program that provides free meals to students in high-poverty areas.
Impact on Ohio schools
According to the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), the proposed changes would impact 728 schools across Ohio. The measure would raise the threshold for CEP eligibility from 40% to 60% participation in programs like SNAP and TANF, disqualifying many schools that currently benefit from the provision. As a result, thousands of students would no longer have access to meals at no cost. This would disproportionately affect low-income families already struggling with rising inflation.
“Taking away this important and effective way for local schools to offer breakfast and lunch at no charge to all their students would increase hunger in the classroom and create unnecessary paperwork for families and schools,” said Erin Hysom, senior child nutrition policy analyst at FRAC, as reported by Ohio Capital Journal.
Community reactions
The loss of free meals would not only affect children’s physical health but also their academic performance. Dr. John Stanford, State Director of the Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio, highlighted the significant impact on Ohio’s children, noting that “free meals can help our students thrive mentally, socially, and physically.” As quoted by Ohio Capital Journal, Stanford further emphasized the discrepancy between public opinion and the proposed policy, citing a poll showing most Ohioans support universal free school meals.
A rising hunger crisis
Ohio has already seen a decline in school meal participation since the expiration of COVID-19-related meal waivers, with a 14% drop in lunch participation. The proposed cuts threaten to exacerbate food insecurity for Ohio children, with more than one in six living in households that struggle to afford food.
If the cuts are approved, the long-term effects could be devastating for students in Ohio and across the country, raising serious concerns about the future of child nutrition programs.
