Kent, Wash., School District will offer certified halal meals to students

The Kent School District in Washington state will offer certified halal meals to students, the first district in the state to do so, according to the advocacy group OneAmerica, KIRO 7 News in Seattle reported on October 23.

OneAmerica, an education advocacy nonprofit, announced the change on Thursday. The group said the introduction of halal meals will affect hundreds of students in Kent. KIRO 7 reported, citing Census Bureau data, that Kent has one of the largest Muslim populations by percentage in Washington.

OneAmerica said community members began advocating for halal meals in December 2025.

Safa Malekzai, a Kent High School freshman, said: "It feels absolutely amazing to walk into the cafeteria and see meals that actually fit my life and culture. Knowing that our school went out of its way to include us makes me incredibly proud to be a student here every single day."

Spencer Pan, the district's executive director of technology and partnerships, said: "This is a win for the Muslim community and students, but I think it's also a win for all students."