Oklahoma House Education Committee Chair Rep. Dick Lowe has dismissed the State Superintendent Ryan Walters' mandate to provide free lunches to all students as an "empty threat." On Monday, Walters announced an initiative that would compel school districts to fund free lunches by cutting staff salaries, a directive Lowe argues exceeds the Superintendent's legal reach. According to Lowe, the Oklahoma State Constitution does not grant the authority to mandate how school districts must allocate their finances, as reported by the Oklahoma House.
While acknowledging the importance of addressing student hunger, Lowe emphasizes that any significant updates to school funding should properly take place through legislative action, not through the channels of an unfunded mandate. "This attempt to overstep the authority of Walters' office is a threat to the independent decision-making power of Oklahoma's school districts. Regardless, it is nothing more than an empty threat," Lowe stated on the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He encourages the Superintendent to work with lawmakers directly to enact change, rather than issuing decisions unilaterally.
This contention arises amid a backdrop of attempts by the Oklahoma House to address the issue of child hunger. In fact, the House previously considered legislation, notably House Bill 1376 in 2023, to expand the availability of free school meals. However, the specifics of funding such initiatives remain a point of contention, with local school boards currently retaining the authority to voluntarily fund meal programs.
Furthermore, Walters' announcement included a reference to a potential State Department of Education (SDE) emergency rule addressing child nutrition standards. Such a rule would require approval from the State Board of Education before it could move forward for consideration by the governor. It's been indicated that if the SDE wishes to uphold the rule, it must be submitted as a proposed permanent rule during the next legislative session. The next regular meeting for the State Board of Education is slated for July 24, providing the next opportunity to officially to discuss the rule.
