Support Healthy School Meals for All

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School Meals

About the Coalition

The Healthy School Meals for All Coalition is a group of advocates, working together to pass legislation to create a Healthy School Meals for All program for all Rhode Island students for the school year.

Healthy School Meals for All (also known as Universal Free School Meals) is a policy that ensures all public-school students have access to breakfast and lunch at no cost as part of the school day, regardless of their household income, so they can learn and thrive.

Research shows that universal free school meals reduce food insecurity, improve nutrition and academic performance, and generate much needed revenue for school nutrition programs. School meals are an integral part of the school day and should be no different than access to textbooks, technology, busing, and health services that are provided to all students without cost.

Program Benefits

Reduces prevalence of child hunger & food insecurity

Ensures all students are well-nourished and ready to learn

Helps improve learning outcomes

Helps Improve attendance rates

Reduces stigma associated with eating school meals

Ends the problem of unpaid school meal debt

Eases administrative burden for schools

Supports school nutrition finances and operations

Reduces prevalence of child hunger & food insecurity

Ensures all students are well-nourished and ready to learn

Helps improve learning outcomes

Helps Improve attendance rates

Reduces stigma associated with eating school meals

Ends the problem of unpaid school meal debt

Eases administrative burden for schools

Supports school nutrition finances and operations

HSMA 2026 Legislation

Legislation introduced by Senator Vargas and Representative Caldwell will ensure Health School Meals for All

House Bill No. 5742:
"Healthy school meals for all" -- School breakfast and lunch programs

Representatives Caldwell, McEntee, Batista, Potter, Spears, Casimiro, Kazarian, Boylan, Kislak, and Speakman

Senate Bill 2635:
School lunch program -- Fees, transparency, and payment protections.

Senators Lawson, Gallo, Ciccone, Tikoian, Bissaillon, Murray, LaMountain, Urso, Britto, and Thompson

Rhode Island Supports
Healthy School Meals for All

A survey conducted by the URI Harrington School of Communications & Media asked: Do you support legislation that requires free lunches to be provided for all K-12 students attending public schools.