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Witnesses tell appropriations committee universal school meals support learning, attendance
Summary
Kate McCann testified that free school meals improve student focus, attendance and long‑term health; she warned that ending universal meals would shift costs to schools and families and harm transient students.
Kate McCann, testifying by remote connection on Feb. 19, told the House Appropriations Committee that universal free school meals are critical to student learning, attendance and health. McCann said research shows hungry students cannot focus and that for some children school is the only source of a hot, nutritious meal.
She said Montpelier High School supplements universal breakfast and lunch with an additional $200 per week to provide food for the students who need extra meals and argued that ending universal school meals would increase that burden on individual schools. McCann emphasized the program’s importance for transient and unhoused students who rely on school meals.
McCann urged the committee not to discontinue universal school meals and framed the funding decision as central to both academic outcomes and long‑term public health.
