OSDE to require free school lunches without new funding, drawing mixed reactions

Oklahoma schools will be required to provide free lunches to all students in the upcoming school year, according to an announcement Monday by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). But with no new funding from the state, the mandate is already drawing mixed responses from lawmakers and school districts.

The OSDE directive calls on school districts to fully fund the new requirement by reallocating existing operational budgets—primarily through reductions in administrative costs. Superintendent Ryan Walters defended the mandate, arguing that Oklahoma taxpayers already pay enough through federal and local taxes.

“Parents already pay for lunches when the federal and local government tax them,” Walters said in a statement. “They shouldn’t be taxed again with a lunch invoice. In Oklahoma, we put kids first—not bureaucrats.”

The announcement cited several statutory authorities that Walters says empower the department to require such a move, including Title 70 O.S. §§ 18-101(8), 5-128, 5-128.1, and 3-104(A)(13), which collectively cover budgeting, expenditure reporting, and compliance enforcement.

Lawmakers Call for Collaboration and Funding Plan

State Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, who is a former Tulsa teacher, welcomed the idea of universal free meals but criticized the rollout and lack of funding.

“Well, I'm glad we finally agree on something,” Waldron said. “I've been working on legislation to do just that for several years now. It builds stronger bodies, healthier minds, and improves outcomes in the schools when kids don't have to worry about lunch shaming.”

However, Waldron warned that the current approach amounts to an “unfair and unfunded mandate.”

“To spring this on school districts 40 days before the start of the school year is irresponsible,” he said. “If we had worked with the legislature to develop a funding pathway, we might not be in this moment of chaos.”

Districts Warn of Severe Financial Strain

School officials across the state, including in Bixby, are raising alarms about the impact on local budgets. Bixby Public Schools sent a letter to parents this week, warning that the new policy would create a "$5 million unfunded mandate annually," requiring “catastrophic measures impacting all programming, staffing, and class sizes.”

In the letter, the district said they believe such a rule change requires legislative approval and, for now, Bixby does not expect to be affected.

The OSDE, however, maintains that it has the authority to enforce the requirement and could withhold state funding or accreditation from non-compliant districts.

A Broader Fight Over Priorities

The debate touches on deeper tensions between the OSDE and local districts over budgeting and spending priorities. The department’s announcement criticized school systems for what it called "gross mismanagement and bloated bureaucracies that prioritize administrative paychecks over kids’ basic needs."

Waldron rejected that characterization, arguing that meaningful solutions will require thoughtful budgeting rather than scapegoating administrators.

“No, we aren't going to be able to pay for school lunches by cutting principal pay,” Waldron said. “We should take a measured look at all the dollars coming in and see if more investment is useful.”

As the new school year approaches, districts and lawmakers are urging the state to clarify the mandate.