LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – State leaders are recognizing School Breakfast Week while highlighting Michigan’s program providing free breakfast and lunch to all public school students.
The program serves roughly 1.4 million students across the state. Supporters say the initiative helps improve learning outcomes while easing costs for families.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is now proposing to make the program permanent in state law as part of her latest budget proposal.
State Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren) said the program has been widely supported and helps families facing rising grocery costs.
“The free breakfast and lunch program is widely popular,” Xiong said. “It saves families about $850 per year, and as we’re looking at affordability and helping families lower the cost of living, the free breakfast program is a very important factor in the budget.”
Xiong said ensuring students have access to meals at school can also improve their ability to learn in the classroom.
“When children are able to have a full breakfast and a full stomach, they’re able to focus more and learn,” she said.
Republican lawmakers also say the program benefits students, though they note long-term funding will be a key factor in upcoming budget negotiations.
State Rep. Greg Markkanen (R-Hancock) said ensuring students have access to meals is important, but lawmakers must also determine how to sustain the program financially.
“Free breakfast, free lunch is a great thing for our schools,” Markkanen said. “We just have to find a way to continue to pay for it.”
Markkanen added that access to nutritious meals plays a key role in student success.
“ That’s really important to have a good meal, a nutritious meal, and be able to sit in a classroom without your stomach turning and being hungry,” Markkanen said. “You cannot learn in that situation.”
Lawmakers are expected to debate the future of the free school meals program as part of the state budget process in the coming months. Michigan’s next fiscal year budget must be finalized by July 1.
