Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who assumed office in January 2019, has been at the forefront of leading the state through challenging times, including the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the historic levels of inflation experienced across the U.S. as markets recovered.
In his April 2023 state of the state address to the Minnesota House of Representatives, Governor Walz highlighted the issue of inflation and introduced his ambitious universal free school lunches plan.
During his address, Governor Walz emphasized the importance of ensuring that no parent in Minnesota should have to compromise on the quality of public education. He acknowledged the financial strain faced by educators and school boards due to rising costs and proposed tying school funding to inflation to prevent any cutbacks.
Furthermore, Governor Walz outlined a comprehensive plan that includes a significant increase in investment in the education system. This plan involves a more than 10 percent boost to the general education funding formula over the next four years to support the dedicated efforts of teachers across the state.
One of the key components of the plan is the provision of universal school meals to all students in Minnesota, ensuring that no child has to attend school on an empty stomach.
