Sen. Nate Libby proposed LD 311 to lower the mandatory school attendance age from age 7 to age 5 to help improve attendance. A Sun Journal article about school attendance problems (March 13) cited research confirming children who have chronic attendance problems are less likely to meet proficiency standards and/or graduate.

In the same article, a school administrator acknowledged, “a single parent in a poor household is dealing with problems such as not enough food …”  LD 311 is focused on the problem, not the solution. It will not solve the problem of low attendance because it does not address food insecurity.

LD 380 proposes solutions to food insecurity and student hunger. The appointed work group created an action plan based on research to end student hunger in Maine. As a taxpayer, I support an end to student hunger.

Last year, Maine didn’t spend $30 million in federal funds to feed students. Before the Maine Legislature gives the money back to the federal government, it should be used to feed Maine’s needy students.

At present, there seems to be a focus on the problems in the schools — why teachers aren’t teaching “right,” why there are low graduation rates, who is getting paid too much. Come back to the solution — LD 380 wants to end student hunger.

The task force report tells it like it is: “The state is maintaining a pattern of poverty because hunger severely impacts a child’s success in school.”

Let’s get focused on solutions. Let’s feed our students so we can increase graduation rates.

Bridget LaRoche, Lewiston