Senate unanimously approves Bellows bill to modernize access to school meals

Posted: May 28, 2019 | Senator Bellows

Maine Senate voted unanimously on Tuesday for a bill introduced by Sen. Shenna Bellows, D-Manchester, to modernize the application process for free or reduced-price lunches for Maine students.

LD 701 “An Act to Modernize the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program,” requires the Department of Education to develop, and make available, an online application that schools may use for all eligible students for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast.

The bill builds upon a 2017 law from Sen. Bellows, LD 1113, which required the Department of Education to make available information about online applications for school lunch and school breakfast programs. LD 701 streamlines this process by having the Department develop one online system, rather than having up to 174 different software programs from districts across the state to do the same thing.

“Everything that we do in education starts with making sure that every child has enough to eat during the school day, so I’m glad to have the Senate’s support for this vital bill,” said Sen. Bellows. “By delivering food directly to children in need through the school lunch program, we are helping children learn better, and taxpayers can be assured that the money invested is having its intended effect.”

LD 701 aims to increase the number of parents who fully complete the forms necessary for students to qualify for free or reduce-price lunches. Parents, particularly those who grew up with the internet, are increasingly comfortable doing things online. Online forms also reduce the worry of children losing forms or returning them to the wrong place. They also increase privacy for parents who worry about the wrong people seeing their detailed financial information included on these forms.

Additionally, if school districts develop individual online applications, there is no guarantee that information can be easily transferred to another district – a complication that would be eliminated with one unified system.

Paper applications would still be made available for families who want or need that option.

LD 701 now faces additional votes in the Maine Senate and House.