James Myall, an analyst at the Maine Center for Economic Policy, told the committee food insecurity can affect a child’s physical and mental health, academic achievement and future economic prosperity, all of which have broader societal effects.
“Studies show that such programs improve the health and well-being of low income students who might already be eligible but who are not receiving free meals, and on the higher-income students who become newly eligible for free meals,” Myall told members of the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs during a recent hearing on the bill.
“Over the longer term, this means better graduation rates and higher earnings in adulthood for these children,” he said.