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Gov. Walz celebrates 450M free school meals on first day of school
The program has saved families about $1,000 per student a year, and costs have risen to $306 million in fiscal 2026, the governor's office said.
- On Tuesday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz visited Hoover Elementary School in Coon Rapids to celebrate The Free School Meals Program, which has served nearly 450 million meals since its July 2023 launch.
- Costs for The Free School Meals Program climbed to $306 million in the 2026 fiscal year, surpassing initial projections of roughly $200 million, as participation exceeded expectations.
- Unlike federal reduced-price meal programs, Minnesota's initiative provides meals to all children regardless of income. Walz, a former teacher, emphasized the policy's importance, stating "we left food out of that equation" when funding schools through property taxes.
- Approaching his January exit, Walz said he would "rather be remembered" for The Free School Meals Program, general education funding, and the Child Tax Credit than the COVID-19 pandemic response.
- Regarding campaign involvement, Walz said he intends to be "as involved as people want me to be," while remaining distant from Democratic campaigns for Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Peggy Flanagan.
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Minnesota free school meals program hits milestone
SAINT PAUL, MINN. — As Minnesota students returned to classrooms for the start of the 2026-27 school year, Governor Tim Walz announced a milestone for the state’s Free School Meals Program: more than 150 million free breakfasts and lunches were served during the initiative’s third year. The accomplishment brings the total number of meals served to nearly 450 million since the universal meal policy was signed into law in March 2023. State officia…
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Total News Sources17
Leaning Left0Leaning Right6Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Center
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
60% Center
C 60%
R 40%
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