Overview:
Proposition MM will increase state income taxes paid by households earning $300,000 or more annually to fund the Healthy School Meals for All Program
Last night, Colorado voters decided on a pair of measures aimed at bolstering funding for free school meals for all public school students, as well as to mitigate federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, by taxing the wealthy.
Proposition MM will increase state income taxes paid by households earning $300,000 or more annually to fund the Healthy School Meals for All Program, thereby continuing to offer free meals to all K-12 public school students in Colorado, rather than restricting eligibility to only low-income students and schools. This measure builds upon a previously passed referendum from 2022, which also called for an increase in taxes to help fund schools.
Estimated to impact more than 200,000 households across the state, Proposition MM is expected to raise an additional $95 million. This funding, in addition to free school meals, will also support the inclusion of fresh produce on cafeteria menus and provide a raise for cafeteria workers.
Proposition MM passed with support with 6 in 10 Colorado voters supporting the measure.
The ballot measures were supported by Hunger Free Colorado, which helped fund the Keep Kids Fed committee, an advocacy group that raised more than $725,000 to promote the measures’ passage.
Really interesting to see how Colorado voters approved a measure to fund free school meals by taxing higher‑income households. According to the article, Proposition MM passed with about 60% support and will raise roughly $95 million to support the “Healthy School Meals for All” program.
The Educators Room
Kinda gives hope that education policy can shift in ways that actually support students in meaningful ways. If you’re in the education sector and looking for new roles that align with those values, maybe check out AcademicJobs.com — they list jobs in academia & education that could be a good fit.