California is making history by becoming the first US state to offer free school meals to every student. According to <a href="https://calmatters.org/education/k-12-education/2022/04/california-public-school-enrollment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cal Matters</a>, more than 5.8 million students will benefit from the policy, which has been dubbed 'Universal Meals'. The program - which will launch across the state at the start of this school year - builds on the foundations laid by the federal National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. It comes as a result of the state Assembly Bill 130, the landmark state Budget signed into law last year by Gov. Gavin Newsom which aims to focus on education financing. State Senator Nancy Skinner helped lead the march to establish universal free school meals, which she deemed "essential to learning" in an interview with <a href="https://edsource.org/2021/free-school-meals-here-to-stay-in-california/658564" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EdSource</a> last year. <img class="wp-image-1263165110 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2022/08/EMJ7N2-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1704" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: lovethephoto / Alamy]] "We know that many California children are food insecure, and if you're hungry you cannot learn well," she explained to the outlet. Per a report by <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Food/california-1st-state-offer-free-meals-school-kids/story?id=88290584" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC News</a>, Merced Union High School District has already started rolling out the program, providing students with free breakfasts and lunches. <img class="size-large wp-image-1263165130" src="https://img.vt.co/2022/08/DYNNF1-1024x612.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="612" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: Edwin Remsberg / Alamy]] Several key pillars have ensured the program's success, per the Californian Department of Education. These include the mandatory participation of high-poverty schools and the expansion of the program to provide a nutritiously adequate breakfast and lunch to all students - not just those children that need it the most. The bill has been praised for destigmatizing food poverty, as well as for providing all students with healthy meals. <img class="wp-image-1263165111 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2022/08/2A71YY0-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" />[[imagecaption|| Gov. Gavin Newsom. Credit: MediaPunch Inc / Alamy]] Maine is expected to follow in California's footsteps. Gov. Janet Mills committed to offering a universal school meals program last year when she signed legislation that allocated funding to a free meals program similar to that being rolled out in California. One of the bills chief sponsors, Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, said in a statement at the time: "Maine children should be able to focus on learning math and playing with their friends, not an empty stomach. By providing free, nutritious school meals, no questions asked, we can ensure Maine kids can focus on being kids." "No child should have to go to school hungry, especially not in this state," he added. <h6>Featured Image Credit: EyeEm / Alamy</h6>

California to become first state to provide free school meals to every student

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