As a number of school districts move to make meals free for students, now is a perfect time to address the larger issue of childhood hunger.

The facts show childhood hunger is a real problem across Oklahoma, and we at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) applaud the school districts stepping up to fight it with free meals for all students.

This positive move by some districts puts into specific relief the issue of summertime child hunger when most schools do not offer meals. One answer is Summer EBT, which Oklahoma turned down for this last summer.

The deadline for Oklahoma to sign up for Summer 2025 EBT funding is this very Thursday, August 15. This would bring back from Washington about $48 million of our federal tax dollars direct to families to help feed hungry children. Hunger Free Oklahoma reports Oklahoma has about 403,000 children eligible to receive the Summer EBT benefit.

Now, some school districts and nonprofits are able to provide summer lunches. However, only 4.3 out of every 100 eligible children in Oklahoma participated in Summer Meals programs in 2023. This is because most schools do not operate their cafeterias during those months and the nonprofit sector is simply not able to reach these children, especially in the rural areas.

That is why the Summer EBT benefit is so important. Our neighboring state of Arkansas accepted the money for this year. Alabama, who – like Oklahoma – turned down the money in 2024 has already accepted the funding for 2025.

We encourage Oklahoma leaders to follow suit and join in with this program to help feed hungry children in our state.

Another feeding program, the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), is an alternative to household applications for free and reduced-price meals in local educational agencies and schools in high-poverty areas. A new guideline implemented last September expanded the number of districts that can apply for funds to provide free meals.

Unfortunately, not all Oklahoma school districts that qualify will seek this support for their students. You can go to https://tinyurl.com/CEPSpreadSheet to see if your school district qualifies and if they currently operate this program. While it is too late for this current school year, the deadline to apply for next year is April 1, so school boards and administrators should start reviewing this now.

CEP – and all models for providing healthy school meals for all at no cost – is often a win-win for schools, kids, families, and communities, providing many benefits, including:

• Lowering food costs for families.

• Increasing food and nutrition security.

• Eliminating school meal debt.

• Increasing student participation in school breakfast and lunch programs.

• Saving time by simplifying program operations for hardworking school nutrition staff.

Eligible schools and local education agencies must consider their ability to provide meals at no cost and cover their operating costs with this federal assistance and any other available funds, including state and/or local funds, if available.

Additionally, the federal Agriculture Department (USDA) supports expanded access to healthy school meals by offering extensive financial support for schools.

Even so, it is not enough. The Summer EBT, pumping $48 million dollars into families’ pockets and local economies across the state, is the best step to ensure many of Oklahoma’s children do not needlessly suffer from the pain of hunger.

We at OICA implore the state leaders to accept the return of our tax dollars for children’s meals and ask each of you to reach out to school leaders in your communities and state policymakers to ensure we do everything possible to ease childhood hunger.

– About OICA: The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy was established in 1983 by a group of citizens seeking to create a strong advocacy network that would provide a voice for the needs of children and youth in Oklahoma, particularly those in the state’s care and those growing up amid poverty, violence, abuse and neglect, disparities, or other situations that put their lives and future at risk. Our mission statement: “Creating awareness, taking action and changing policy to improve the health, safety, and well-being of Oklahoma’s children.”