About 18% of children in Michigan live in food-insecure homes. Unfortunately, the issues they face could potentially snowball under proposed cuts by congressional Republicans that would make it more difficult for schools to provide universal free meals, according to state officials.

GOP lawmakers want to change an existing federal program that makes subsidized meal programs more efficient and accessible by allowing schools in impoverished communities to qualify to offer free meals to all students, as opposed to independently verifying each student’s family income, as reported by the nonprofit news site Chalkbeat via Michigan Advance.

Currently, schools must show 25% of their students are enrolled in other aid programs such as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to qualify for community eligibility. House Republicans want to raise the requirement to 60% of students.

Republicans say they want to make the change to ensure only the neediest students get free school meals. The cuts to the program were raised by the House Budget Committee Chair U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington in March.

The nearly 600,000 Michigan students who currently qualify through the current federal community eligibility program could lose access to free school meals, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Over the past few years, Michigan has provided free school meals to all students, allocating about $200 million in state funds annually to bridge the gap in federal programs. Proposed legislation to make universal free school meals permanent in the state failed to move forward.

Overall, more than 850,000 Michigan children rely on free public school lunches and more than 474,000 eat breakfast in school.

If the proposed federal cuts were to become law, many students in the state would be negatively impacted, officials from the MDE said Tuesday during a presentation to the State Board of Education. It could also lead to schools serving lower quality, less nutritious meals to students due to budget constraints.

“The health of our Michigan students is at risk,” said Diane Golzynski, deputy superintendent for business, health and library services for the MDE, during the board meeting.

Additionally, Republicans want to change federal regulations to allow local schools just 10 days after they receive a completed application to determine if a family is eligible for free or reduced meals.

“This proposal could continue to contribute to the rise in food insecurity for households with children,” said Kelleher.

One in six Michigan children face food insecurity, according to the nonprofit Feeding America.

Dawn Pully, food service director for Bendle Public Schools, where 88% of students are from impoverished families, said during the meeting the only meals some children eat are provided by their schools.

“I don’t even want to think about telling our students that they have to pay or that they can’t eat because they owe money,” she said.

Times are tough enough right now, we really don’t need to add to the problems families are already facing. While they’re in school, kids should be focused on learning, not worrying about where their next meal is coming from.

Board President Pamela Pugh said the cuts are “cruel” and “callous.” We would agree with that position.