SALEM, Ore.-A bill currently being considered in the Oregon State House of Representatives would ensure free school meals for all students, even if proposed budget cuts to meal programs at the federal level take effect.
House Bill 3435, designed to ensure that any student in Oregon, regardless of income can receive breakfast and lunch during the school day, unanimously passed out of the House Committee on Education on March 17.
“I’ve watched high schoolers skip lunch to avoid the stigma of the free and reduced lunch line, and I’ve seen the benefits of shared meals in building community and improving academic performance,” said Rep. Courtney Neron (D-Wilsonville, Sherwood, King City, Tigard), House Education Chair.
Possible federal budget cuts proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee include school meal programs, such as the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allows schools and school districts in low-income areas to serve breakfast and lunch at no-cost to students without collecting household applications.
CEP is a non-pricing meal service program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that reimburses schools that provide free meals based on the percentage of students eligible based on their participation in other meal programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
School districts are currently eligible for CEP if 40 percent of students quality for free meals; however, under federal budget cuts proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee, the threshold for offering free meals would be raised to 60 percent.
The Umatilla, Hermiston and Pendleton School Districts all provide free meals to students currently under the CEP.
“This is a very important program for our students and community, and I think fueling learners is an important service for all children,” said Umatilla School District Superintendent Heidi Sipe, whose district has been providing free meals to students through the CEP since 2014.
Under the CEP, each enrolled student is eligible for one no-cost breakfast and one no-cost lunch per day. A full list of Free and Reduced Price Eligibility for Oregon’s Public Schools is available online through the Oregon Department of Education
According to Rep. Neron’s Office, despite proposed cuts at the federal level HB 3435 would allow Oregon the flexibility and funding to withstand any possible disruptions to meal programs.
“Studies show that what kids eat directly impacts their health and learning,” said Rep. Neron. “By expanding this program, we can improve educational outcomes for all Oregon students.”
HB 3435 would provide $4 million in state funding to pay off existing school meal debt for families, expand funding for the Breakfast After the Bell program, and fund small infrastructure grants for schools to reduce long lunch lines and give students more time to eat.
“Now is the time to make universal school meals a reality for every student in Oregon,” said Rep. Neron.
HB 3435 will now be considered by the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, however, no committee meetings or floor sessions on the bill have yet been scheduled, according to the Oregon State Legislature.
