Poll shows strong bipartisan support for healthy school meals for all Pennsylvania students

Every child should have the opportunity to learn, grow and be healthy, and that starts with consistent access to nutritious food during the school day. When students have reliable meals, their brains have the fuel they need to focus, participate and succeed in the classroom, which helps set them up for healthier futures over time.

While Pennsylvania has taken an important step by providing free school breakfast, access to lunch remains uneven. Because current systems require families to prove eligibility, some children fall through the cracks or face stigma that discourages participation. Expanding school meals to include lunch for all students would ensure consistent access to nutrition while simplifying processes for schools and families alike.

A new poll shows Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly agree. The American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, is calling on state lawmakers to build on existing progress and ensure no child goes hungry during the school day.

“An overwhelming 94% of Pennsylvanians believe every child should have access to healthy meals during the school day,” said Emily Moore, region senior state government relations lead for the Heart Association. “Expanding no-cost school meals to include lunch ensures every student can count on the nutrition they need and gives lawmakers a chance to advance a solution that is both effective and widely supported.”

The survey of 701 Pennsylvania likely voters, conducted in May, also found:

• 82% support expanding no-cost school meals to include lunch;
• 56% believe the state should do more to support student nutrition; and
• support spans political lines, with 88% of Democrats and 70% of Republicans saying student access to nutritious meals is very important.

“One out of every eight children in Pennsylvania faces hunger and in some rural areas, that number is as high as one in five,” said Brandi Allen, food Rx nutrition and culinary educator for the Heart Association. “When students don’t have enough to eat, it affects their ability to learn and participate fully in school. Providing meals to all students helps remove stigma and ensures every child has the fuel they need to succeed.”

Providing school meals for all students is a proven, efficient approach that reduces administrative costs, streamlines operations for schools and ensures that no child is left out due to paperwork or income thresholds. Just as public education is available to every child, school meals are a practical way to support learning and health across entire communities.

Two legislative proposals under consideration this session, House Bill 180, sponsored by Rep. Emily Kinkead and Senate Bill 180, sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Williams, would establish a universal school meal program and a dedicated fund to support it.

Pennsylvania lawmakers have an opportunity to act on a solution that reflects shared values, meets a clear need and has bipartisan support.

Learn more about healthy school meals for all and take action through the Heart Association’s Heart Powered grassroots advocacy network: https://www.heartpowered.org/PAHealthySchoolMeals.