1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

Almost 20% of Ohio families receiving vouchers for private schools can and should pay for their student to attend said school- that is costing Ohioans and providing far less benefit than well-fed students. I would much rather 10 kids get a free lunch who don't need it than one kid go hungry. All students deserve access to nutritious meals to fuel their learning and development. Research consistently shows that food insecurity negatively impacts academic performance, behavior, and overall well-being. Providing universal free school meals would help eliminate this barrier, ensuring every child can focus on their education rather than where their next meal is coming from. The $300 million annual cost is a small price to pay for the long-term benefits of investing in our youth. I urge you to prioritize funding for universal free school meals in the state budget to support the success of all Ohio's students.