We are on the verge of making history.

Healthy school meals are just as important to learning as textbooks or pencils. Children who participate in school meals are shown to attend more days of school, improve test scores, be more likely to graduate, and earn more as adults.

The Student Success Act, which passed a committee vote on April 29, addresses decades of underfunding for Oregon's schools and makes game-changing investments for Oregon's students. Investments include lower class sizes, high-quality preschool, career technical training, culturally-specific student success plans, and mental/behavioral health services. In addition, the Act also contains game-changing investments to increase access to school meals: a critical part of the recipe for student success.

• Universal Access to School Meals. Makes Oregon’s schools hunger-free by filling federal funding gaps so 761 schools with the highest need can offer meals to all kids at no charge. For the remaining 484 schools, Oregon would provide targeted support to students so eligibility for school meals is consistent with children's health insurance.

• Breakfast After the Bell. Ensures students have access to breakfast at school by ensuring that breakfast is available after the bell at schools with the highest rates of poverty.

Contact your legislators TODAY and ask them to vote YES on the Student Success Act.