It is 11:30 a.m. at a middle school in Connecticut. The lunch line is bustling with conversation, while other students remain silent in the corner, sitting with no lunch, hoping no one notices they cannot afford the meals. A few miles away, on my college campus, friends debate skipping lunch since their meal swipes and dining dollars have run out. Different settings, but the same problem: students attempting to learn on an empty stomach. Thousands of students in Connecticut experience hunger on a regular basis. The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children during the school day. Eligibility for free or reduced-price meals is based on family income, and during COVID-19, federal waivers allowed students to receive meals for free regardless of income, removing stigma and ensuring no child went hungry. When that pandemic-era support expired, Connecticut chose not to continue universal meals, leaving families to navigate outdated eligibility rules and logistical barriers such as transportation or limited pickup times.  As a result, over 12,000 children have recently lost access to free school meals in the K-12 system due to funding and eligibility changes, leaving families scrambling to cover unaffordable costs. Robin Lamott Sparks, executive director of End Hunger CT!, stated that the pandemic exposed flaws in state agencies’ coordination, leaving families behind. Lawmakers have described it as “a real failure of the state“. Daniel Fitzmaurice, director of advocacy at United Way of Connecticut, said, “For these families, the return of meal charges is not just an inconvenience; it is a serious financial hit.” The inability to eat continues even after graduating from high school. It follows students to college, including mine at Sacred Heart University, where meal plans are so expensive that many people struggle to eat daily. In fact, research shows that about one in three college students nationwide face food insecurity, regularly skipping meals or lacking access to balanced nutrition. Nelly Birmingham, an undergraduate student at Southern Connecticut State University, shared, “I had to divide my rations to survive the day. I was scared to ask for help, but I couldn’t focus on school if I didn’t eat”. Arabella Pastena While low-income students are most at risk, lower-middle-income students also face challenges, as they may not qualify for government aid but still struggle to afford regular meals. Hunger is not always obvious. It is quiet, lonely, painful, and directly affects students’ ability to focus, study, and succeed academically.  Lawmakers attempted to resolve the issue during the 2025 legislative session. House Bill 7273 suggested funding a universal free school lunch program with a tax on sweetened beverages, syrups, and powders. Although it did not pass, its introduction pointed out the importance of a structural solution to ensure all children have access to meals at school. Meanwhile, cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) represent an additional threat to children’s ability to eat, as families who previously relied on this support may now face increased food insecurity. With the next legislative session beginning in February, it is a timely opportunity for lawmakers to reconsider providing a universal free school lunch program. I call on Connecticut legislators to bring this bill back and pass universal free school meals, treating food as an educational necessity rather than an optional support. This is more than just compassion. It is about equal treatment in education. Hunger affects concentration, engagement, mental health, attendance, and even graduation. If Connecticut truly wants its students to succeed, every child should have access to nutritious meals at school. Every child in Connecticut has access to textbooks and learning materials at school, regardless of family income, because these are recognized as essential tools for learning. Food should be treated the same way. Connecticut must eliminate eligibility requirements and provide universal free school lunches, ensuring that every student has consistent access to nutritious meals as a fundamental part of their education, not a privilege. Every student, from kindergarten cafeterias to college dining halls, deserves access to nutritious food. A full stomach should not be a privilege. Connecticut has the opportunity to make school meals universal and accessible, giving every child the nutrition they need to grow and succeed.  Arabella Pastena is a senior graduating in December 2025 from Sacred Heart University, majoring in Health Sciences with a concentration in Healthcare Administration and minoring in Business and Management. ...read more read less