Free lunch for K-12 students tops WA Gov. Ferguson's priorities

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson's priorities include enhancing affordability for residents across the state. One proposal focuses on providing universal free school meals and expanding childcare options, with the goal of benefiting families and individuals of all ages.

A key component of the plan is the introduction of guaranteed universal school lunches for students in Washington's public schools.

By the numbers:

Ferguson has proposed an annual investment of $120 million to expand the "Meals for Kids" program. This expansion would provide an additional 325,000 students with access to free, healthy meals at both breakfast and lunch.

The initiative is designed to alleviate financial pressure on families, who currently face some of the highest grocery costs in the contiguous United States.

By offering free meals at school, the plan aims to reduce the monthly grocery expenses for Washington families by nearly $1,200 annually.

Dig deeper:

The proposal is part of a broader effort to address affordability challenges and improve the quality of life for residents throughout Washington.

Another component of the new governor's priorities is expanding childcare eligibility for small business employees.

Ferguson would like to invest $100 million to give more families with children 12 and younger access to lower-cost childcare.

The Source: Information for this story came from WA Gov. Bob Ferguson's website.

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