BONUS: The End of Free School Lunches (and What Comes Next)
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
03/21/25
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Learn about the potential end of free school lunches and what could come next. Stay informed on Department of Education news and potential cuts.
In this urgent S4E28 bonus episode, I examine how Republican budget proposals threaten universal free school meals for 12 million students nationwide. Based on senior Chalkbeat reporter Kalyn Belsha's investigative reporting, this episode breaks down the academic, administrative, and financial consequences of these proposed cuts.
Learn why universal free school meals improve attendance, test scores, and student behavior, and discover how these cuts would create significant burdens for schools already facing resource challenges. This episode provides essential information for educators, parents, and community members concerned about child nutrition and educational equity.
For more resources, including Kalyn's full article and Jennifer Gaddis' book "The Labor of Lunch," visit the show notes. Join me every Monday for research-backed strategies and Friday for bonus reflections to support the children in your care.
Episode Mentions:
- How a Republican plan to cut universal free school meals could affect 12 million students by Kalyn Belsha
- The Labor of Lunch: Why We Need Real Food and Real Jobs in American Public Schools Volume 70, Jennifer E. Gaddis
- S3E23: Providing Healthy School Meals to All Students with Food Service ESP, Talisa Jones
- National Education Association (NEA)
00:00 - Introduction: The Threat to Universal Free School Meals
01:00 - About Skolution's Coaching and Teaching Strategies Podcast
01:45 - Kalyn Belshaw's Investigation into School Meal Cuts
03:00 - Impact of Universal Meals: Removing Stigma and Supporting Families
04:00 - Administrative Burdens and Nutrition Quality Concerns
05:30 - GOP Proposals: Community Eligibility Requirements Increase
07:00 - Income Verification Requirements and Paperwork Burden
08:00 - Financial Impact on Families and School Meal Debt
09:30 - Immigration Concerns and Tariff Effects
10:45 - Book Recommendation: "The Labor of Lunch" by Jennifer Gaddis
12:30 - Moving Away from "Or" Mentality in Public Support
13:30 - Advocacy Work of Food Service ESPs
14:15 - Closing and Call to Action
#SchoolMealCrisis #SaveSchoolLunches #FeedingStudents #EducationCuts #StudentHunger #SchoolLunchProgram #UniversalFreeMeals #ChildNutrition #FoodInsecurity #SchoolMealDebt #EquitableEducation #StudentSuccess #EducationPolicy #SchoolMealEquity #ChildrenFirst #EducationAdvocacy #TeacherVoices #SchoolFunding #NutritionMatters #KidsNeedFood
Want to learn more about how the budget cuts will impact children in your care? Check out my full S4E28 interview with Kalyn.
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Previous Episode
Join me as I interview Chalkbeat senior national reporter Kalyn Belsha for an urgent update on the Trump administration's education cuts. This follow-up to Kalyn’s Episode 18 appearance covers the rapid dismantling of the Department of Education.
Discover which vital programs have been terminated, how research benefiting thousands of students has been abruptly halted, and what these cuts mean for vulnerable populations including children with disabilities.
This conversation reveals how federal education funding is being used as leverage against schools and universities, and why the biggest concerns lie ahead with potential cuts to Title I and IDEA funding.
Episode Mentions:
- Trump expected to sign executive order on U.S. Department of Education. Here’s what we know by Erica Meltzer
- Parent groups and organizations that support families of children with disabilities by state
- National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
- The Hechinger Report's tracker of Trump's education actions
- The New York Times' tracker on lawsuits against the Trump administration
- Columbia University's response to the Trump administration saying it would withhold $400M in federal funds from the University
- The University of Kansas Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction -This link has a teacher's guide & earlier research on the strategy
00:00 Introduction: Why This Conversation Matters
01:00 Overview of Recent Department of Education Cuts
02:00 Kalyn Belsha Returns with Critical Updates
03:00 Department of Education Confirmation Hearings
04:35 Linda McMahon's Limited Knowledge of Education Law
05:25 Major Cuts to Teacher Training and Research Programs
07:15 Impact on Students with Disabilities' Transition Programs
08:30 Research Projects That Cannot Be Restarted
09:30 The "End DEI" Portal and Its Real Purpose
11:15 Where Are the Guardrails? Understanding Funding Types
12:45 The Future of Title I and IDEA Funding
14:15 Implications for Colleges and Universities
15:40 Federal Funding Used as Leverage Against Schools
17:00 Executive Order to Dismantle the Education Department
18:30 Withholding Federal Funds as a New Enforcement Tactic
19:30 School Meal Program Rollbacks on the Horizon
20:45 The Connection Between Education and Democracy
22:15 How to Stay Informed Without Being Overwhelmed
24:00 Resources for Tracking Education Policy Changes
25:15 How to Advocate for Education Funding
26:30 Moving Beyond Our Bubbles to Support All Children
27:30 Closing Thoughts and Contact Information
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Next Episode
Join me as I speak with Juliana Tapper, M.Ed, founder of CollaborateEd and author of Teaching 6-12 Math Intervention: A Practical Framework To Engage Students Who Struggle. Discover Juliana’s revolutionary B.R.E.A.K. it Math Intervention FrameworkTM, designed specifically for students who have experienced math trauma or anxiety.
Juliana reveals why Algebra 1 is a critical gatekeeper for educational success and how her evidence-based approach helps break down barriers for historically underserved students. Learn practical techniques to build math confidence, engage reluctant learners, and elevate student status in mathematics.
🔑 Topics:
- Understanding and addressing math trauma and anxiety
- The five-step B.R.E.A.K. it Math Intervention FrameworkTM
- How to implement the innovative "Math Wars" teaching method
- Why building community must come before content
- Just-in-time vs. just-in-case intervention approaches
- Strategies for maintaining high expectations for all students
Episode Mentions:
- Embedded Formative Assessment by Dylan Wiliam
- Elena Aguliar - Coaching for Equity, The Art of Coaching Teams, Arise
- Math Chat Podcast hosted by Mona Lehl
- Math TherapyTM by Vanessa Vakharia
- Choosing to See by Kyndall Brown, Ph.D. and Dr. Pamela Seda
- Just-in-Time vs. Just-in-Case Scaffolding: How to Foster Productive Perseverance by Dr. Juli K. Dixon
From Juliana:
- Free PDF: 10 Math intervention strategies
- Free Mini-Workshop: Surprisingly easy ways to engage apathetic students
#6Through12MathIntervention #MathTrauma #AlgebraGatekeeping #MathEquity #TeacherSupport #MathWars #MathFramework #BREAKIT #MiddleSchoolMath #HighSchoolMath #MathTeaching #MathCoaching
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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