Will School Lunches Soon Be Free For Students In North Dakota?

I remember going to school when I was a kid; it was a mostly happy experience. I mean, sure, you had some bullies, and the homework was a drag, but being around other kids your age and making friends was great.

While I made many wonderful memories in school, there was one thing we all hated. If, like me, you were not from a very financially stable home, you know all too well the dread of lunch statements. School workers would pull you aside in front of your friends or walk around to tables, handing lunch statements out to show you that your bill was overdue. You had to take that little piece of paper with the aggressively highlighted balance home to your parents.

You got harassed several times until your parents were able to pay. Once they wrote you a check, you had to walk into the principal's office and hand it to the secretary to update your balance.

(Also Read: How Much Will North Dakotans Spend On Christmas In 2025?)

Not only that, I remember having to bring 20 cents to school for an extra milk, because as a teenager, one wasn't enough. Keep in mind, this was before water bottles from home were allowed in class.

It was an uncomfortable situation as a kid, which brings me to the question: Should school lunches be free for kids in North Dakota?

Petition for Free Lunches in North Dakota

According to KX News, an organization called Together for School Meals has put together a petition proposing that public schools in the state offer free breakfast and lunch to students. The proposal was submitted to the Secretary of State, Michael Howe, last week.

The source says schools that offer free meals would have to participate in federal programs to receive funding.

This move could save parents $ 1,000 per student per year.

The source also says that two bills proposing free school lunches did not pass in the 2025 Legislative Assembly. This new petition must collect 31,164 signatures to be placed on the ballot.

What do you think? Should school lunches be free in North Dakota? Send us a message in the app.