The cost of free school meals for all is a bargain given all those benefits. It is estimated to cost around $200 million in total, or about $275 per student not currently receiving a free meal. Within a State budget in excess of $220 billion, that’s a modest sum to improve the health and education of our children.
Free School Meals: When the Feds Step Back, States Step Up
![Girl with school lunch tray](https://schoolmealsforallny.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/girl-school-lunch-tray.webp)