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A North Dakota coalition has moved one step closer to getting a state measure that would offer free school meals to all K-through-12 students on the November ballot.

The Together for School Meals initiative collected about 26,000 more signatures than what is required for the petition.

Cheryl Kary, executive director of the Sacred Pipe Resource Center and a member of the coalition, said free school meals would benefit Indigenous populations her organization serves – and all families – as affordability concerns continue to impact more communities across the state.

"The reality is that providing the lunches in the school system is for the overwhelming number of middle-class people who are just getting by," she said, "and we really need that assistance so that the kids can have a really robust educational experience."

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The coalition said the program would save North Dakota families an average of about $1,000 per student, per year.

Critics of the measure say the state shouldn’t have to pay for free meals for families who can afford it. The North Dakota Secretary of State has up to 35 days to verify the signatures before it can be approved as an official ballot measure.

Kary said Indigenous philosophy teaches that those with means should share with others. She’s seen this reflected in her work through fundraisers her organization hosts to provide school meals. In her own home, she said, she sees it when her son uses his lunch money to help classmates in need.

"My son's lunch account was getting depleted very quickly," she said, "and come to find out, he's buying lunch for other kids. We hear that story a lot here where our indigenous kids are sharing their lunch with other kids that don't have money. And that just shouldn't happen."

So far, the North Dakota Legislature has voted against the universal model as concerns about funding for the program remain. The coalition says while its proposed measure doesn’t dictate where funding must come from, it ensures lawmakers will use the state’s Legacy Fund earnings if other resources aren’t sufficient.

"North Dakota is doing very well financially," she said. "There's no reason why we can't feed children. It's just a matter of priorities. And I think what we're finding with this petition is that the people of North Dakota believe that the children of North Dakota are a priority."

Nine other states have adopted statewide policies to offer free breakfast and lunch to all public school students.