Funding concerns for free school meals program
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — With the help of a statewide ballot measure, District 11 in Colorado Springs has been offering all students free meals since 2023.
Their Food Services Director Janine Russell, says the average number of meals they serve each day has seen a huge increase since starting the program. However, she also says it has a statewide funding problem for the 2025-26 school year.
'It just shows that families are taking advantage of the program,' said Russell, 'and that's the problem now for next year… because so many school districts took advantage of this wonderful program, more than (the legislature) anticipated,' said Russell.
Although the three faith based schools in the district are not included in the free meals for all program, she says it's extremely helpful for many families.
'They can save that lunch money, that breakfast money, and use it to (meet) the needs of the family. Whatever that may be,' said Russell.
Families no longer have to provide their income to access the free meals. She says that's helpful for the parents who made over the old threshold, but needed the money for other things like medical bills. However, D-11 is still asking parents to provide their income information, to help them get state and federal funding for student resources.
However, the program was so popular, D-11 says there was not enough tax income to cover it.
'I don't have any confidence in saying what it's going to look like (next year). I do know that the legislatures are actively trying to figure out a solution,' said Russell, 'I sincerely hope we know something come April, May… because I need to do a budget for next year, and that budget process is like right now.'
She says parents can fill out the Family Economic Data Survey now, to get help with school meals next year just incase.
'If you got qualified for technically free or reduced meals now, you would have those at the beginning of the school year,' said Russell, 'instead of, 'oh my gosh, I got to hurry up and get the paperwork filled out so that my child can have a free or reduced meal'.'
If the funding isn't straightened out in time, she says they'd go back to the sliding scale program. In that program, students can qualify for free or reduced prices based on their household income.
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