Ohio Students Urge Lawmakers to Provide Free School Meals
A group of Ohio high school students gathered at the Statehouse, urging lawmakers to provide free breakfast and lunch for all students, calling school meals a lifeline for those facing food insecurity.
With 1 in 5 Ohio children unsure where their next meal will come from, students argue that access to food directly impacts academic performance. A bipartisan bill, S.B. 109, introduced by Sens. Bill Blessing (R) and Kent Smith (D), seeks to make school meals free for public and charter school students at an estimated cost of $300 million per year—less than 1% of the proposed state budget.
Meanwhile, Ohio Republican leadership has proposed cutting over $650 million in public education funding, and potential federal cuts could affect 280,000 Ohio kids who rely on school meal programs. Additionally, a new bill, H.B. 145, aims to increase instructional hours, sparking concerns from educators who warn that funding cuts could lead to staff reductions and the elimination of electives.
Despite budget concerns, students remain hopeful. “I think something, hopefully, will get done about it,” said Corbin Eaton, a junior at Antwerp High School, who has experienced food insecurity firsthand.
