For the 2024-2025 school year, Portland Public Schools (PPS) is providing free breakfast and lunch for all students. Oregon’s Student Success Act (2019) provides one billion dollars per year of funding toward Oregon’s education, 100 million of which is specifically for access to school meals. 

In previous years, families had to fill out a free and reduced meal application to apply for discounted or free school lunches and had to reapply every school year.

 Vice Principal Travis Johnson is supportive of the new policy.

“I know there are a lot of families who don’t fill out the free and reduced lunch information, that now don’t have to worry about any paperwork, and can have free breakfast and lunch,” said Johnson. “Ultimately, free food to people is a very good thing. I think in many developed countries, you will see free food [given] to school children.”

Many other states have already implemented similar policies. Starting after the Covid-19 pandemic, California became the first state to require all public schools to provide free breakfast and lunches to students. States such as Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Vermont were soon to follow. Other countries such as Finland have had similar policies dating back to the 1940s.

Sophomore Edward Kemple has been getting school lunch since he was a freshman. This year he has noticed the lunch lines are longer causing him to have less time to eat food and talk with his classmates. ​​

Still, Kemple thinks the policy of free food for students is great.

“I think it helps most of the students who just can’t afford to buy lunch [or to go out for lunch] and it just makes it way more accessible. It’s helpful for everybody, honestly.” said Kemple.

Johnson says he’s also noticed changes in students’ habits.

“I’ve seen a lot more people eating lunch… maybe twice as many. I have seen students staying on campus more, which I think is good,” said Johnson.