School District 49 is looking closely at multiple important factors to determine how we will participate in the voter-approved Proposition FF, which would provide meals at no cost for all students. 

The program, now known as “Healthy Meals for All Children,” (HMAC) seems like a no-brainer. But, as with so many government-funded programs, the details matter. So far, program managers at the state level have not ironed out how to implement this program. 

The biggest concern for D49 and other districts in Colorado is how HMAC will impact at-risk students. School districts receive federal funding for students participating in the Free and Reduced price lunch program, which also qualifies districts for funds that go toward educational programs and Title I schools. As the HMAC program is designed, participating districts could lose millions of dollars in "at-risk" federal funding for education and meals.

Districts across Colorado are appropriately concerned that the state-provided free meals will drastically reduce enrollment into the Free and Reduced program, which means less funding for educating at-risk children. 

We saw this exact pattern develop during the free-meals-for-all phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: in that changing economy, many families who could qualify for free and reduced benefits did not apply because congress-approved funding covered all meals. As a result, D49 experienced a 30 percent decrease in free and reduced participation.

By providing meals at no cost to children of families that can afford lunches, there is the significant potential to lose funding for educational programs and support to low-income students. These at-risk students would qualify for free meals in the current Free and Reduced program. 

D49 leadership is asking itself, is it the right call to opt in to an unproven meal program, if the end result means reducing our ability to provide educational opportunities, experiences and achievements of at-risk students? 

D49 is waiting on the state to clarify procedures and program details that will provide a way to continue federal funding for educating our at-risk students. 

School districts have until the start of the next school year to decide on how to participate, and must opt in or opt out each year. D49 plans to make a decision by the end of May. 

Colorado’s Proposition FF will help pay for school meals by limiting state tax deductions for those making more than $300,000 per year — meaning those taxpayers would pay more in taxes. That revenue would be available to school districts that choose to offer free school meals for all students. Proposition FF requires districts to apply for what’s known as the Community Eligibility Provision program to get federal funding, but D49 and other districts don’t qualify for CEP. 

Proposition FF passed with 55 percent of the state vote in the November 2022 election. It was much closer in El Paso County with a win by 3,120 votes (50.56% to 49.44%).