For thousands of children experiencing homelessness across our state, school is a safe haven, a roof over head, and the only place they can get things like food and air conditioning. But while class is out for the summer, those children are out of crucial resources.
Read MoreU.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Representative Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) announced the Universal School Meals Program Act, legislation that provides a permanent solution to end child hunger in schools by offering free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack to all students, preschool through high school, regardless of income. Throughout the pandemic, this program provided food-insecurity relief to families across the country but expired in September 2022.
Read MoreDuring the pandemic students all over New Mexico and the U.S. had access to free meals. Now the state has found a way to continue to make breakfast and lunch free for all students.
Read MoreAbout 71% of New Mexican students qualify for free or reduced-price meals yet some of our children are still going hungry. The Healthy Universal School Meals Act introduced by Democratic Senators Michael Padilla and Leo Jaramillo would give all public and charter school students free access to breakfast and lunch regardless of family income. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is a supporter of this bill and made it one of her priorities in her State of the State address.
Read MoreA bill being considered by the Legislature is designed to relieve some of the pressure on families' food budgets.
Read MoreLawmakers have advanced a substitute bill that would provide free breakfast and lunch to New Mexico school kids. Some legislators are skeptical about the price tag and whether the state can afford it in years to come. But supporters say this bill could keep thousands of kids from going hungry.
Read MoreIt probably comes as no surprise that reducing the stress of living in poverty, providing tutoring and addressing social-emotional challenges can help at-risk high school students succeed in the classroom.
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