Future of universal free school meals uncertain

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(The Center Square) – The Michigan Department of Education is pushing back against a Republican-supported school budget.

The school budget still remains in limbo 58 days after its July 1 deadline. Over the past few weeks, concern has grown over the status of a state-funded program providing free breakfast and lunch to all public school students.

Republicans said their budget does not put school meals at risk en masse. They cite an Aug. 19 press release from the MDE as backing up that claim.

“I’m pleased to see the department getting this right in its recent press release,” said State Rep. Curt VanderWall, R-Ludington. “I have heard many people who have been misled to believe the House Republicans are cutting funding for school lunches in the K-12 budget, and it’s simply not true.”

Just a day after VanderWall’s statement, the MDE released an additional statement calling it an “inaccurate assertion” that the budget will not cut school meals.

“The bottom line is that the House budget would consolidate into one section of the budget funding for numerous important programs for our children rather than dedicating specific dollars to programs like free school meals,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. “That would almost certainly result in some school districts ending free meals because funds for those programs would have to compete with dollars for other programs.”

In their education budget, Republicans in the state House proposed a total overhaul, which Democrats labeled “terrible.”

Senate Democrats proposed their own $21.8 billion version of the budget, which largely maintains the status quo of past budgets. It includes a continued financial commitment to free school breakfast and lunches for all students and more funding for free preschool programs.

Republicans are pushing for decentralization in their budget proposal, which would cost the state $21.9 billion. This decentralization even applies to school lunch programs.

“Our plan ensures that school districts that want to continue the program may do so, and those that do not may use the funding elsewhere if they see fit,” VanderWall said. “No two school districts are alike – and there are varying degrees of need for lunch assistance throughout them.”

To not designate funding to school meals will lead to inadequate and inequitable funding, the MDE argued.

“Distributing dollars without regard to the fact that different students have different needs returns us to the inequitable funding formula of the past,” Rise said. “We’ve made strides on school funding equity in Michigan the last few years. We need to continue to do so.”

Free school meals has been one of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s priorities. In the 2024-2025 budget, the state allotted $200 million for the program.

With the state Senate and governorship run by Democrats and the state House run by Republicans, compromise will ultimately be necessary on the budget.

July 1 was the legally mandated statutory deadline for the finalization of the entire budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, including a separate k-12 education spending budget. The new fiscal year is set to begin on October 1, or in just 34 days. If a deal is not made by then on the budget, the state could face a government shutdown.