Free school lunches for students; What will it cost?
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
During the pandemic students all over New Mexico and the U.S. had access to free meals.
Now the state has found a way to continue to make breakfast and lunch free for all students.
The state set aside $30 million for school meals with SB4 but in order to get all New Mexico students fed, schools also rely on federal food programs.
“Data matching with USDA programs and. About 60,000 kids. We're going to be roped in that they were going to be paid federally,” Daniel Valverde, New Mexico Appleseed Director of Strategy said.
It's estimated that paying for these meals could cost between $27 million and $40 million in recurring funding from the state's budget.
This bill set aside more than $40 million to make this a reality.
“This is going to reduce incredible amounts of anxiety for families who have actually created a lot of school meal debt,” Valverde said.
With thousands of students facing food insecurity at home advocates for free meals say this will also help with students' learning.
“The data has always proven how difficult it is for kids to learn on empty stomachs when they go home. They don't know when their next meal is,” Valverde said.
More than 300,000 kids in New Mexico will now have access to breakfast and lunch at school.
Another first, buying local produce for schools, “We grow plenty of food here in New Mexico. And this makes sure that you know, we're buying locally. So that has its own local economic effects to this bill,” Valverde said.
This legislation also set aside $20 million to improve school cafeterias.
“There's going to be kitchen renovations for each school district, especially rural areas, who struggle with that,” Valverde said.
According to supporters of this bill, making food fresh is also a priority by using local produce.
While free school meals will start next school year, the requirements to improve the quality of the food will go into effect in 2025. That's meant to give school districts time to prepare.