Walters’ meals mandate is an ‘empty threat,’ Oklahoma House education leader says
OKLAHOMA CITY — A mandate that all Oklahoma public schools offer cost-free cafeteria meals is “nothing more than an empty threat,” a House Republican leader said.
The head of the House Common Education Committee, Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, said Wednesday there is no legal basis for the edict state Superintendent Ryan Walters issued this week. Ordering all districts to pay for free meals would overstep the powers of Walters’ office and infringe on local school boards’ authority, said Lowe, a former agriculture teacher.
Rep. Dick Lowe
“Addressing student hunger and streamlining administrative costs are both worthwhile endeavors, but these changes must be implemented legislatively, not through an unfunded mandate,” Lowe said.
Walters, a fellow Republican, contended that public schools have enough state and federal funds to afford universal free meals for students. He urged districts to cut back on administrator salaries to make room in their budgets to implement the mandate in the 2025-26 school year. Doing so, he said, will ensure every student receives full educational opportunities.
“This isn’t negotiable,” Walters said on Monday. “Bureaucrats who can’t prioritize students over their own perks will be shown the door.”
Districts are legally obligated to submit their annual budget plans no later than Oct. 1 to the Oklahoma State Board of Education, which approves accreditation ratings for every school in the state. A public school cannot operate in the state without accreditation from the board.
Walters said he would pursue penalties against districts that don’t comply with his order, including a potential accreditation downgrade, withholding of state funds and a financial audit. He said he would consider revoking the certification of any educator who fails or refuses to incorporate no-cost meals into their budgets.
Oklahoma law doesn’t require schools to provide free meals to all students, though some already do so voluntarily, Lowe said. He also noted there’s no state law enabling Walters to retaliate against districts for not offering breakfasts and lunches for free.
“If Walters has legislative goals, I encourage him to be communicative with lawmakers year-round, not after session has adjourned and it’s too late for the Legislature to consider any of his proposals,” Lowe said.
The chairmen of the Senate Education Committee and the House education appropriations subcommittee did not return requests for comment.
Some House Democrats gave mixed reviews of Walters’ order. Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, echoed Lowe’s sentiment that the edict is an “unfunded mandate.”
Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, and Rep. Annie Menz, D-Norman, celebrated Walters joining a cause their party has been pushing for. At least nine, mostly Democratic-led, states have implemented universal free meals in public schools, including neighboring Colorado and New Mexico.
Waldron, now the chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, said he supports free meals in schools as long as they don’t negatively impact districts.
Some school leaders have said they would have to implement drastic cuts to afford Walters’ order. Other districts, like Tulsa and Oklahoma City, already offer free food service to all students through a federal reimbursement program targeted at high-poverty schools.
“We hope there will be an opportunity to work on this collaboratively, without disruption to local school finances so that every child has a chance to succeed,” Waldron said in a statement Monday.
Oklahoma Voice (oklahomavoice.com) is an affiliate of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization, supported by grants and donations. Oklahoma Voice provides nonpartisan reporting, and retains full editorial independence.
