A recent report released by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) highlights the impact of Healthy School Meal for All policies on students and school environments. In the 2022–2023 school year, five states found increases in school meal participation. State agency administrators reported many benefits, including reduced child hunger, elimination of stigma associated with school meals, and improved academic achievement and behavior among students. The report findings underscore a need for a permanent nationwide Healthy School Meals for All policy.
In the meantime, New York kids cannot wait. This year, New York expanded school meals at no cost through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). This historic investment effectively expanded access to more than 345,000 additional students. Still, nearly 660 schools are left operating means-tested programs that leave children and struggling families behind.
New York can forge a different path—alongside California, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan, and New Mexico—by fully funding a statewide Healthy School Meals for All in the upcoming state budget. This report adds to a growing body of evidence that this policy is a common-sense solution for families and kids in terms of addressing hunger, but also improving health and education outcomes.
Join us by telling NYS lawmakers to prioritize Healthy School Meals for All in the state budget! Take action today:
- Contact elected officials: Send a letter directly to Governor Hochul, leaders in the legislature, and your representatives with just one click.
- Encourage others to get involved: Share the click-to-action with your networks using this outreach toolkit which includes sample newsletter language and social media posts.
- Post on social media: Elevating #Meals4AllNY helps state representatives see the strong, grassroots support for Healthy School Meals for All. Use our social media toolkit for sample posts and graphics.
