Testimony: Senate Education Policy Committee

On Wednesday, January 18 we joined the Minnesota Senate Education Policy Committee for a hearing on SF 123 – a bill that would provide free school meals for all Minnesota students. We welcomed a wide variety of voices to share their testimony and support for this initiative.

Senator Heather Gustafson

“Being hungry makes learning almost impossible. There is no worksheet, or assignment, test, or project that will matter to a student who hasn’t had anything to eat. There is not a reading program or a math strategy that will improve scores for a student who doesn’t know where their next meal is going to come from.”

“By providing free meals, we can ensure that all students have the necessary fuel to succeed in school.”

Bukata Hayes, Vice President of Racial and Health Equity and Chief Equity Officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

“A permanent hunger-free schools solution would address episodic food insecurity and recent food insecurity issues from the loss of employment or the loss of a loved one who was the main financial provider.”

“This issue is deeply personal to me. I’m a product of investments like this in youth and children.”

“It provided certainty for a single mom like mine…that for that day, I would have something to eat to be able to make it through school.”

Dr. Gigi Chawla, Chief of General Pediatrics at Children’s MN

“Proper nutrition is fundamental to every aspect of a child’s health and wellbeing, including their physical health, mental health, and academic performance.”

“When children don’t have access to the nutrition they need, they are less able to focus and more likely to experience developmental delays which can impact their academic achievement from year to year.”

“School aged children and adolescents who experience hunger are also more likely to experience anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and struggle with substance abuse disorders.”

“The mental health support we provide to children and families is limited if their social needs like access to nutritious food are not being met.”

“This bill is an opportunity to invest in the health of children, building the foundation kids need to be physically and mentally healthy so they can focus on learning and achieving their highest potential.”

Matt Shaver, Policy Director at EdAllies

“If we were starting schools from scratch and were planning what all should be included in our schools, I am sure we would start with the essentials: we’d want to make sure our schools had electricity, running water, bathrooms, menstrual products, heat for the winter, a way for students to get to school, and I don’t think we’d get too far down the list before we got to school meals.”

“Much like if we are going to require Minnesota students to come to school, we ought to provide free access transportation for students, if we’re going to have them be there all day we ought to provide free access to school meals.”

“There is a clear fix: Feed the kids.”

Adosh Unni, Director of Government Relations at the Minnesota Department of Education

“Making sure that all students are fed in schools is a fundamental component to supporting the whole child, and ensuring their academic behavioral and social-emotional needs are met.”

“Research shows that a well-nourished child is a better learner, test taker, and participant in school. When kids have a full tummy, they are going to pay attention and learn much better.”

Lori Smith, Food Service Worker in St. Cloud

“I get emotional when I talk about the kids, and being hungry. I know the kids who come through my lunch line, and I know the kids who don’t get enough to eat at home. And even though I’m not supposed to, those kiddos always get just a little bit extra from me.”

“I know that nutrition is the most important factor for student growth and academic success. Children behave and learn better when they’re well nourished.”

Senator Erin Maye Quade

“I had a student tell me, ‘I can afford lunch, but I have ADHD and so does my mom, and we forget sometimes to fill up my lunch account. And I don’t eat those days.’”

“I think that feeding our kids is the most very basic function that we can do as a state, as a government, and in our schools.”