northernnewsnow.com · Marisa Ornat · September 8, 2026
Gov. Walz: Record free school meals served as Minnesota students return to class
# Gov. Walz: Record free school meals served as Minnesota students return to class
By Marisa Ornat
Published: Sep. 8, 2026 at 11:29 AM CDT| Updated: 45 minutes ago
DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) - On Tuesday, public school students across Minnesota returned to classrooms for a new academic year.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced a major milestone the same morning, noting that more students than ever have access to food following a record number of free school meals served.
According to Walz, nearly 450 million free meals have been served to students since the launch of the state-funded program.
Without the burden of school lunches, families save an average of $1,000 per student each year, Walz said.
“Every meal we serve means one less child worried about hunger and one more student ready to learn,” said Gov. Walz. “As we begin a new school year, we’re reminded that breakfast and lunch are essential to a child’s health, development, and success. As a teacher and parent, I know how powerful it is when students walk into the classroom nourished, focused, and ready to thrive — all while families get a little more breathing room in their budgets.”
The Minnesota Free School Meals Program is available in all Minnesota school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools. Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program are required to participate.
In its first year, breakfast participation grew by 40% and lunch participation grew by 15% compared to the previous school year. Walz said the program was created to ensure no student goes hungry, lower costs for families, and reduce stigma in school cafeterias.
“The Free School Meals for Kids program has transformed how we serve our students and support Minnesota families,” said Commissioner Willie Jett. “This statewide effort removes stigma, keeps money in families’ pockets, and gives students the confidence to succeed in school and beyond.”
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