According to the Department of Education,” California is first at implementing the Universal statewide meals program for children. In 2023 the food program provided 4.6 billion meals. Currently, the California Universal Meals program provides two free meals (breakfast and lunch). The program is funded by a combination of federal and state funds. According to Education Weekly, President Trump’s bill plans to cut the nutritional programs which are funded under USDA for kids by up to 660 million federal dollars. This is important because up to 30% to 45% of California kids would be affected, possibly losing their free meals. Students who eat for free will have to pay for Breakfast and lunch.”
As a teenager I think students are unable to focus without food and I know how it is coming to school and not eating and when you don’t eat it can make you angry, and not want to do anything or speak to anyone and we like free food but it will be taken away from us. We won’t have any free food nor fruits and more students will be in the nurse’s office often because they don’t feel good from eating and families who can’t really afford food will really be struggling because they don’t have much to give to their children and people with snap and Medicaid can eat free still. I don’t think it’s fair that only families with snap and welfare benefits get to have free food since we all were able to get free food now some will have to pay since they don’t have any benefits and that will cause money problems for families since they have bills and rent now they’ll have to pay for lunch and breakfast for their kids since their not getting help as everyone else who had the same opportunity as everyone else.
According to EducationWeekly it states, “Schools that have started serving universal free meals reported better student engagement, lower discipline rates, and fewer visits to the nurse’s office, ” she said. A sudden policy shift would financially burden families already struggling with rising food prices, a key issue in ongoing political debates, Hysom said.”
This proves that we are better learners when we have free breakfast and lunch with no obstacles.
