ALBANY, N.Y.– The Assembly and State Senate one-house budgets include full funding for statewide universal free school meals to ensure all 2.7 million students across New York State have access to free school breakfast and lunch free of stigma or paperwork barriers. The Legislature’s steadfast support of this policy has been critical over the last three years. With universal school meals also fully funded in Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget, New York is poised to become the next state to establish a permanent universal school meal policy.
We applaud Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Carl Heastie, and our many legislative champions, especially prime sponsors Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, for their continued leadership on this issue.
Universal school meals support children’s food security and health, improve academic performance, and reduce stigma, all while putting money back in families’ pockets. These programs save parents an estimated $165 per child in grocery costs per month. The savings are significant, particularly when New Yorkers in every corner of the state are struggling to make ends meet due to the rising cost of living.
As the Governor and legislative leaders negotiate the final budget in the coming weeks, we urge them to prioritize this vital investment in New York’s students, families, and schools.
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Use our click-to-action tool to join us in calling on Governor Hochul and Senate and Assembly leadership to get Healthy School Meals across the finish line by including full funding in the final state budget.
