Free school meals program could be on the chopping block in Michigan

PORTAGE,Mich.—AprogramallowingallMichiganstudentstoeatfreebreakfastandlunchatschoolisfacinganuncertainfutureaslawmakersnegotiatenextyear’seducationbudget. Since2023,thestate’sbudgethasdesignatedfundingspecificallytothe“MichiganSchoolMealsProgram,”whichguaranteestwomealseveryschooldaytoallpublicschoolstudentsingradesPre-Kthrough12,freeofcharge,regardlessoftheirfamily’sincome. AroundPortage,it’smoreprevalentthanpeopleactuallyrealize.Advocatesassertthattheprogramhashelpedreducestigma,improvedclassroombehavior,andeasedfinancialburdensonworkingfamilies.Opponentsarguethataidshouldbeprovidedonaschoolbyschool,studentbystudentbasis. OnWednesday,Michigan’sHouseofRepresentativesannounceditsproposalforthe2026schoolbudgetwithnotableincreasestoper-pupilfunding,arecord-setting$12,000perstudent,withoutline-itemsdesignatingfundingtospecificprogramslikeschoolmeals. Thisplan,accordingtoHouseRepublicans