Albany, NY – Lawmakers and advocates rallied in Albany to call for full funding of universal school meals in New York in the final state budget, following strong support from the Assembly and Senate (A1941A/S01678A). After securing $120 million in the Assembly one-house resolution and $125 million in the Senate one-house resolution the lawmakers and advocates rallied to urge the Governor and legislative leaders to prioritize ending student hunger in schools by fully funding a free breakfast and lunch program for all students across the state. This follows the FY2025 Consensus Economic and Revenue Forecast Report projecting an additional $1.35 billion in revenue for Fiscal Year 2025 and the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024.

An estimated 320,000 students across New York still lack access to free school breakfast and lunch. Even after the Governor and state legislature provided $135 million last year in the state budget to expand free school meals, more than 650 schools are still unable to offer universal school meals at no cost. In those schools, up to 24% – nearly 1 in 4 – of their students may be from low-income households, but the school community still cannot leverage last year’s funding for expanded free meals. These schools are largely in suburban communities, including on Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and Western New York where families are struggling as already high costs of living continue to rise.

Students who do qualify for free school meals still fall through the cracks because of poverty stigma, and administrative and language barriers that prevent families from applying. A recent Siena poll found that 77% of registered NY voters support state funding for Healthy School Meals for All. Strong support held across party lines, with 63% of Republicans in support, and across geography, income, race, and age.

Advocates noted that there is a misperception that the remaining families and schools are “affluent” and do not need this state investment. The reality is that hunger exists in every community. Those left behind include working families struggling to make ends meet, but earning too much to qualify for free school meals – a family of four earning just $56,000 is over-income.

Eight states have implemented universal school meal policies, including Vermont and Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, Michigan, Colorado, New Mexico, and California.

“New Yorkers are increasingly leaving our state because it is unaffordable to raise a family here. The Senate and Assembly have now put their money where their mouths are and allocated $120 million to fully fund universal school meals for all New York students. It is time that we do the right thing, feed our kids in schools, and help them learn and grow to become contributing members of our state. As a mother I am urging Governor Hochul to join our legislative leadership and eight other states across the country that have fully funded universal school meals. We cannot teach hungry children, no matter their zip code or family income. It’s time to fully fund meals for all students in New York,” said Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas.

State Senate Education Chair Shelley B. Mayer said, “I am pleased the Senate included $125 million for universal school breakfast and lunch in the One House Budget, making meals at no cost universal for all New York Schools under the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program. In Westchester, many families rely on food pantries and assistance to feed their families, and more can benefit from school-provided meals. By funding school meals for all New York students, we can solve the connected problems of hunger and social exclusion and rebuild our school communities while lifting the burden from families. We must prioritize children and ensure no child is hungry while at school. I urge the Governor to help us fulfill the State’s obligation to every child by fully funding school meals at every school and for every child. I thank my colleagues in the Senate and Assembly for their commitment to this important issue, especially our Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.”

“Having access to healthy and nutritious food is crucial for students’ overall physical and mental development. A nutritious meal can help students perform better inside and outside the classroom. Our responsibility is to ensure that every student in our state has access to free breakfast and lunch. Let's make it happen by advocating for funding in the final budget,” said State Senator Rachel May

“Last year we expanded free meals significantly for schools across New York, including 24 in our district in the Mid-Hudson Valley. The immense positive impact of that investment was felt immediately, but we fell short in making this a universal program, leaving out many schools, including 4 in our district. We need to invest more this year to make free and healthy meals a universal feature of our schools, because these are places where children go to flourish, and no child should have to think about what they’re going to eat while they’re there,” said Assembly Member Sarahana Shrestha.

“I am thrilled that the Assembly and the Senate have included full funding for free school meals in both of our one-house budgets. Free school meals for all students is a good policy on so many different levels, as I have seen firsthand in some of my local school districts that have implemented it. It makes life easier for all parents, from those who are having a hard time making ends meet, to those who just need fewer things to remember on the weekend. Universal school meals makes meal programs less burdensome for school districts to administer, and makes mealtimes easy and stigma-free for all students. Securing universal school meals would be a big win-win-win in this year’s budget, so let’s make it happen!” said Assembly Member Dana Levenberg.

“It is widely recognized that a hungry child simply will not be able to concentrate and is handicapped in learning. New York can and must ensure all children in our state have secure, equal access to healthy school meals. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation, which aims to do just that,” said Assembly Member Chris Burdick

“I applaud the legislature for their efforts in addressing childhood hunger, but we must go further. Universal school meals for ALL students are essential to saving New Yorkers hundreds of dollars and reducing inequality. This bipartisan issue demonstrates its importance across communities in New York. My heartfelt thanks to the bill sponsors and advocates for their tireless work. As budget negotiations continue, I am committed to championing this bold initiative. Together, let's ensure no child goes hungry in our schools!” said Assembly Member Kimberly Jean-Pierre

“In my 40 years of teaching, it’s been a simple fact that students learn best when they have access to filling, healthy meals,” said Assemblymember Christopher Eachus (D-99th District). “Hungry students are unable to focus in the classroom, leading to not only a loss of educational development but also a loss of passion for learning. Within just a few short years, the Legislature has made historic progress in expanding access to school meals for those who need it the most. Now we must take the final step and make Healthy School Meals for All a reality for all children in New York.”

“New York has a child hunger crisis and the time to act is now. By fully funding universal school meals in their one-house budgets, the State Senate and Assembly sent the strong message that no child should go hungry during the school day,” said Andrés Vives, Executive Director of Hunger Solutions New York. “Right now, more than 320,000 kids in our state remain without access to universal no-cost school meals. We urge Governor Hochul and legislative leaders to close the gap by fully funding Healthy School Meals for All NY Kids in the final state budget. Doing so would reduce hunger, support learning, and make New York more affordable for families–all for less than one-tenth of one percent of the state budget.”

“At a time when one in six New York children are food insecure, there’s no reason any child should go hungry at school,” said Liz Accles, Executive Director of Community Food Advocates. "Food insecurity is a complex problem and we have a simple, far reaching solution. In a state with a $230 billion budget, it is unconscionable that more than 320,000 students still go to schools that are left out of universal breakfast and lunch.The State Senate and Assembly’s one-house budgets would ensure these kids have access to the food they need during the school day by fully funding Healthy School Meals for All. New York’s students, families, and school communities are counting on this common-sense investment.”

“Supporting our students starts with supporting their basic needs,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person. “When children are fed — when they don’t have to worry if they’ll get another meal and they don’t have to fear the shame, stigma and potential bullying that surrounds accessing those free meals — we see changes in academic performance, attendance and classroom climate.We thank the Legislature for recognizing that if we want every child in New York to reach their full potential, then every single child in New York must have access to nutritious meals.”

“No child should ever go to school hungry. Agudath Israel, which represents hundreds of Jewish schools and yeshivas across New York State, is proud to be part of this statewide coalition advocating for universal free meals,” said Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Director of New York Government Relations, Agudath Israel of America. “We are thrilled to see school meals fully funded in both one house budgets and we call upon the executive and legislature to fully fund it in the enacted budget.”

“Over 3.4 million households in New York State are ALICE, meaning despite working hard, they are unable to afford the basic essentials and have to make impossible choices over food and rent, health and utilities,” said Peter Gannon, United Way of the Greater Capital Region President & CEO.  “For the 2.1 million kids in ALICE households, they are often left hungry because their household income is just over the cusp of free and reduced-price school meal eligibility but far short of being able to make ends meet.Universal free school meals ensure that kids in every community in every school have the nourishment that they need without the fear of being hungry and without the shame of having to ask for food.United Way supports Healthy School Meals for All New York Kids and we urge Governor Hochul and the Legislature to fully fund this program.”

“Healthy free meals for all NY students isn’t just about filling empty stomachs; it's about fueling the minds of our students and unlocking their full potential regardless of their family’s income” - Megan Bates, Eastern Area Director, New York School Nutrition Association