2025 POSITION PAPER

Indiana schools offer the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs (NSLP/SBP) to fuel academic achievement, support millions of Indiana’s working families burdened by high food prices and inflation, and provide a crucial market for U.S. grown foods. Research shows school meals are the healthiest meals Indiana’s children eat, making these programs a critical asset in chronic disease prevention. To ensure the financial sustainability of school meal programs, the Indiana School Nutrition Association (ISNA) urges the Governor and Indiana Legislature to:

Support Healthy School Meals for All which is a vital initiative that helps to ensure every student has access to the nourishment they need to succeed academically and live a healthier life. By investing in state funding to permanently provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to all students, we can:

1. Enhance Academic Performance: Research shows that well-nourished students are better able to concentrate, learn, and retain information. Healthy meals support improved attendance, classroom behavior, and overall academic achievement.

2. Support Health and Wellness: Nutritious meals are essential in combating childhood hunger and obesity, two challenges that affect millions of students. Healthy meals promote long-term health benefits and help develop positive eating habits.

3. Promote Opportunity: By providing equal access to school meals for all students, we eliminate stigma and ensure that no child is left out or faces barriers due to their family’s financial situation.

4. Reduce Financial Burden: By eliminating meal debt, families and school districts can save money. Indiana families could save an average of $100 per student monthly, putting almost $1000 back in Hoosier's pockets a year. Indiana school districts are facing over $4.5 million in meal debt, which must be paid out of educational funds that should be used for teaching and student resources.

5. Expand Access to Healthier, Locally Sourced Indiana Agricultural Products: Increasing access to locally sourced Indiana agricultural products improves meal quality, supports local farmers, and boosts student participation. This approach promotes healthier students, strengthens local economies, and fosters a deeper connection to the community while reducing food transportation costs and environmental impact.

   
   

Healthy School Meals for All: Promoting Opportunity and Well-being in Education and Health.

Nearly 1 in 5 kids in Indiana faces hunger, relying on school meals for consistent nutrition. This hunger crisis has surged by 36% from 2021 to 2023. With 65% of food-insecure Hoosiers falling above the SNAP threshold, many families earn too much to qualify for aid but still struggle to make ends meet.

Healthy School Meals for All is a transformative initiative to address this gap, providing every child in Indiana with access to nutritious, no-cost meals at school. This program not only supports student health and academic success but also serves as an investment in education, ensuring that all students can focus on learning instead of where their next meal will come from.

Contacts:

Amanda Worrick, ISNA Public Policy & Legislation Chair/ Director of Nutrition Services, South Madison Community School Corporation

Shenae Rowe, ISNA Public Policy & Legislation Past Chair/ Food and Nutrition Director, Warrick County School Corporation

Investing in school nutrition is an education expense, not a social service expense.