FOOD INSECURITY

Universal School Meals for All

“Everyone Eats—And It’s Better When We Do It Together”

The Policy


Under Massachusetts’ universal school meals system, all school meals are provided free of cost to all students. Because the program is universal—meaning there are no income restrictions attached to the program—children who live in food-insecure households can receive breakfast and lunch without stigma or shame. The federal government provides per-meal reimbursements to schools based on their free/reduced/paid meal tiers, and Massachusetts pays for the additional cost of meals.


As of this school year, Massachusetts is the 8th state in the nation to make universal school meals permanent, but its funding mechanism makes its program unique. Massachusetts’ universal school meals program is funded in part by a 4 percent tax on commonwealth residents' incomes above $1 million, also known as a “millionares tax.” Voters approved the Fair Share Amendment tax in November 2022. It generates an extra $1 billion for the commonwealth annually. In addition to helping fund free breakfast and lunch programs, the tax has been used to implement other education-related measures such as clean energy in schools, access to child care, and free community college.

The Strategy: How Did Bay Staters Win This Policy?

Project Bread, the leaders behind the movement to end child hunger in Massachusetts, sought out a number of diverse stakeholders to make universal school meals a reality in the commonwealth. The anti-hunger nonprofit convened the “Feed the Kids Coalition,” made up of over 130 members that include school districts, social justice organizations, healthcare institutions, houses of worship, and others. Because this coalition was able to extend their reach broadly, there was bipartisan support for School Meals for All from two-thirds of the Massachusetts legislature—134 senators and representatives in total. 

Additionally, Project Bread activated their grassroots network, Project Bread’s “Action Team.” The Action team is comprised of more than 4,200 community advocates who sent emails, made calls, and posted messages on social media letting legislators know how important universal school meals would be for their families and communities.

The Law’s Impact


For the 2022-2023 school year—the first year for commonwealth-supported School Meals for All—the number of students eating a healthy school breakfast and lunch increased by 25 percent and 16 percent, respectively. During the 2022-2023 school year, 12.2 million more lunches were served in Massachusetts schools; 61,500 more students ate lunch every school day; 9 million more breakfasts were served; and 43,400 more students ate breakfast every school day.  

The program’s benefits are already apparent in the form of reduced childhood hunger, improved student behavior and attendance, increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, and milk, and improved staff morale and job satisfaction.

Messaging Guidance: Words That Work


To replicate Massachusetts’ successful School Meals for All campaign, advocates should focus on community-driven initiatives that allow for broad coalition base building to reach as many stakeholders as possible. When discussing the proposed program, Project Bread leaned heavily on making the connection between health and education outcomes. They also visited schools to speak directly with administrators and teachers to build support from legislators, as they could see the program first-hand and hear directly from school stakeholders. Additionally, since the COVID pandemic exacerbated food insecurity and childhood hunger nationally, referring to data on COVID’s effects and the proven impacts of universal school meals may help reinforce the need for these programs. Project Bread’s most powerful message focused on supporting families by alleviating the pressure on their household budgets, letting families know school meals could save up to $1,200 per student per year. Today, that amount is closer to $1,400.

The Progressive Caucus Action Fund thanks Project Bread for their comments and insights.

For more state victories, see our

2024 Progressive Playbook.