POWER LUNCH

Why universal free school meals matter

- BRIDGET HUBER

FOR THE FIRST two years of the pandemic, there was such a thing as a free lunch-for public school kids, at least. To blunt a spike in hunger caused by job losses and school closures, the federal government made school meals free, even available as "grab and go," for virtually all children. But Republicans blocked a renewal of the program last spring, accusing Democrats of exploiting emergency measures to enact lasting changes. "Families don't want schools to be permanently stuck in a pandemic posture," argued Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

Now the fight has largely shifted to the states: California, Colorado, and Maine permanently made school food free to all students. But in most of the country, cafeterias have returned to the status quo, where kids either pay full price for lunch or get it for a reduced price or for free, depending on their families' annual income.