Proposed Bill Aims to Expand Free Lunch Eligibility for Oklahoma Kids
A new bill could allow more Oklahoma children to access free or reduced-price school lunches, benefiting thousands of families across the state
Oklahoma, School Lunches, Free Meals, Sen. Carri Hicks, Hunger Free Oklahoma
Oklahoma City: A new bill could change the game for school lunches in Oklahoma. If it passes, more kids will qualify for free or reduced-price meals over the next two years.
Sen. Carri Hicks is behind this bill. She wants to raise the income limit to 250% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that’s about $78,000. This change could help an extra 150,000 kids get the meals they need.
Right now, around 425,000 kids in Oklahoma already benefit from these programs. Hicks and others have tried similar bills before, but they never made it through the Senate Education Committee.
In the last couple of years, at least four bills aimed at improving school lunches have failed. However, a former senator did manage to create a universal electronic form for families to apply for discounts.
Last year, some senators were hesitant about expanding free meals after the federal pandemic program ended. They worried about the costs involved.
Food insecurity is a real issue, with one in four kids facing it. This means many families struggle to get enough food. Currently, families below 130% of the federal poverty line can get free lunches, while those below 185% can get reduced-price meals.
Hicks pointed out that rising grocery prices and living costs are making it harder for families to make ends meet. She believes that hungry kids can’t learn well, so providing meals is crucial for their education.
The bill focuses on rural areas where kids might not qualify based on their school’s enrollment. Hicks wants to ensure that all kids, no matter where they live, have access to meals.
In larger districts like Oklahoma City, most students already qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. About 81% of students there benefit from these programs.
Hicks expressed concern about the stigma kids face when they can’t pay for lunch. She remembers seeing kids get a cheese sandwich if they had lunch debt, which isn’t fair.
Bernard, from Hunger Free Oklahoma, mentioned a recent Arkansas bill that fully covered reduced-price meals for a school year. That kind of support can really help families.
Offering universal free meals would be a big step, and some districts are already doing it. For example, Tulsa Public Schools has implemented this program this year, making it easier for families.
In the end, the goal is to help more kids get the meals they need without the hassle of applications. It’s all about making sure every child has a fair shot at a bright future.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Sen. Carri Hicks files bill to give more kids free, reduced-price lunch