ALBANY, NY – Advocates and lawmakers rallied in Albany to call for the passage and funding of legislation in the State Assembly, A1941A, which would establish universal school meals in New York. After securing one hundred co-sponsors in the State Assembly and half of the Minority Assembly conference on the legislation, advocates urged the Governor and legislative leaders to prioritize ending student hunger in schools. 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. They called for an investment of $90.4M – just $282 per child directly impacted – to fully fund universal school meals.

If fully funded, New York would join eight states that have implemented universal school meal policies, including Vermont and Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, Michigan, Colorado, New Mexico, and California.

“One hundred and two Members of the Assembly have signed onto my bill, A1941A, to establish universal school meals in New York State. This includes over half of the Minority conference in the chamber. That means that over two-thirds of the Assembly wants to pass universal school meals and provide free breakfast and lunch to our school children. I’m so grateful to our legislative leaders for their work in providing a historic investment to expand school meals in last year’s budget but 320,000 students still do not have access to free school meals and we know that includes children in low-income families. Resolving child hunger should not be a partisan issue and that is why we are standing together to demand that our first mother Governor fully fund universal school meals in our budget this year,” said Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas.

“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 $90.4 million 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.

“Due to overwhelming bipartisan support and the leadership of our Senate and Assembly sponsors, universal school meals became a reality last year for countless students all across New York. However, our job is not done. In my community the Goshen School District as well as similar districts throughout the state were left out. We must not leave any student behind.My colleagues and I will continue to fight and we ask you to join us in our advocacy,” said Assembly Member Brian Maher.

"Ending the stigma attached to food insecurity is key to fostering success in the classroom. Universal free school meals will finally address food insecurity in our schools, correcting an injustice that hurts our most vulnerable communities. It is long past time for New York to do what other states have already done in expanding universal free school meals to all students," said Assembly Member Michaelle Solages, Chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus.

“At a time when one in six children in New York struggle with hunger, the time for action is now,” said Liz Accles, Executive Director at Community Food Advocates. “Hunger is a solvable issue. Healthy School Meals for All is one of the farthest-reaching anti-hunger programs for children. For less than one-tenth of one percent of the budget, the state can provide every student in the state with breakfast and lunch at no cost to their families. This would ensure that all students have access to 40 nutritious meals per month during the school year, saving families $150 per child per month. New York State must establish and fund statewide, permanent Healthy School Meals for All to ensure all students receive a healthy school.”

“It’s fitting that we are here during National School Breakfast Week, which celebrates the importance of fueling students for success,” said Andrés Vives, Executive Director of Hunger Solutions New York. “But the reality is that more than 320,000 New York State students do not have access to no-cost meals at school. We are proud to stand alongside more than 100 Assembly co-sponsors on the Healthy School Meals for All NY Kids legislation. Together, we are sending a strong message: New York must ensure all children in our state have equal access to healthy school meals at no cost.”

“New York Farm Bureau truly appreciates the outstanding support from legislators for Healthy Schools Meals for All,” said Renée St. Jacques, New York Farm Bureau Senior Associate Director of Public Policy and Promotion & Education. “We urge the Governor and the legislature to come together and fully fund school meals for all in the state budget. Doing this will not only ensure that all students receive free school meals, but also creates more opportunities for them to enjoy food produced by New York farmers.”

School meals are one of the farthest-reaching anti-hunger programs for school-aged children,” Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Director of New York Government Relations, Agudath Israel of America. “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 and we call upon the executive and legislature to fully fund school meals in the enacted budget.”

“No parent, no family, no educator, wants to see a child hungry,” said Kyle Belokopitsky, NYS PTA Executive Director and parent of a school-aged child. “But that is what is happening. For some, school is the only place they receive a warm or healthy meal. Hungry kids can’t learn. Students experiencing hunger struggle to focus, have lower attendance than their peers, and are at greater risk of mental and physical health problems. We must provide breakfast and lunch at no cost for all students each school day, regardless of household income. Healthy School Meals for ALL levels the playing field for kids and families, reduces hunger, eliminates stigma, reduces bullying, and provides struggling families with financial relief. Now is the time New York. We must follow our sister states and support every child, with one voice.”

“School boards thank the governor and the Legislature for their commitment to providing free school meals to more students across New York,” said Robert Schneider, Executive Director of the New York State School Boards Association. “Thanks to their action last year, some 1,200 additional schools are able to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students this year, no questions asked. However, hundreds of schools around New York remain unable to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision program. We encourage lawmakers to close this gap and ensure that all schools can offer free meals to all students.”