70% of Washington public school students now have access to free meals • Washington State Standard

Nearly 800,000 children will receive free meals at school after lawmakers expanded access — but the state will need to find more money if it wants to continue the program.

That’s according to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, which announced Tuesday that 70% of Washington children now have free access to school meals for any student or family.

But the state underestimated how many students would attend — prompting Superintendent Chris Reykdal to do so Request an additional $17.6 million in the 2025-2027 budget cycle to continue to feed so many children.

The office’s request said the funding gap was also due to adjustments in how the federal government reimburses its free meal program and an increase in students meeting income requirements. About 50.1% of students are considered low-income this year, up from 46.8% in the 2019-2020 school year.

“As we all grapple with rising inflation and tightening budgets, these programs provide much-needed financial relief for families nationwide,” Reykdal said.

Hungry students are more likely to have attention and behavior problems, face academic challenges, and develop poor eating habits.

Lawmakers have gradually expanded Washington’s free school lunch program over the past four years, an initiative led by state Rep. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane.

Under Riccelli House Bill 1238Under the law passed in 2023, if at least 40% of the school population was eligible for the federal free and reduced-price meal program, the school was required to provide the meals free of charge to any student who wanted breakfast, lunch, or both. The new rules took effect in the 2023-2024 school year.

Starting this school year, the program has been expanded to include schools where at least 30% of the population is eligible for the federal meals program.

According to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the number of lunches served at Washington schools offering the new free meal program increased 32% and the number of breakfasts served increased 50% compared to last year. .

In the 2024-2025 school year, 1,523 schools will serve free meals to all students who request one, up from 1,269 in the 2023-2024 school year.

Riccelli attempted to pass a general free school meals law during the 2024 legislative sessionbut the state concluded it would cost too much, at about $115 million a year, Riccelli told the Standard in February.